Jigawa State – A special court in Jigawa State handling farmer-herder disputes has ruled against nine cattle herders, ordering them to pay N500 million in compensation to local farmers. The judgment, delivered by Justice Yusuf Abubakar, comes after a case spanning over two years, initiated by the state Commissioner of Police.
The herders were convicted on multiple charges related to incidents in the Birnin Kudu Local Government Area. The court found them guilty of unlawfully allowing their cattle to graze on cultivated farmlands, causing significant damage to crops—a violation of the state's Penal Code.
In addition to the mass crop destruction, the defendants were also held liable for burning a tractor tyre and a motorcycle belonging to the state chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), for which they must pay an extra N500,000 in compensation. The court further found that the herders inflicted bodily harm on farmers during the altercations.
Justice Abubakar, after reviewing the prosecution's evidence, found the nine herders guilty on all counts. The convicted individuals have 30 days to appeal the judgment.
The conflict occurred in the Kwarsa, Larau, and Tukuda forest areas, regions historically marked by recurring clashes between farmers and herders over land and grazing rights.
Posts
0 Comments