Emir bans night grazing in Yobe

The Deputy Chairman of the Yobe State Council of Chiefs and the Emir of Bade, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Suleiman, has banned night grazing and the use of underage children for herding cattle in his emirate. The Emir made this statement at his palace in Gashua town when the Yobe State Council of the Nigeria Union […]

The Deputy Chairman of the Yobe State Council of Chiefs and the Emir of Bade, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Suleiman, has banned night grazing and the use of underage children for herding cattle in his emirate.

The Emir made this statement at his palace in Gashua town when the Yobe State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) visited as part of a sensitization campaign to address farmer-herder clashes in the state.

He said the decision was made to promote peace and good neighbourliness within his domain.

“In a bid to restore proper understanding between pastoralists and farmers, we have warned them that nobody should encroach on people’s farmlands or allow underage boys to graze with cattle at night.

“This is to prevent the further destruction of farm produce within the area and beyond,” he said.

The Emir explained that these measures were necessary because night grazing and herding by underage children were the primary causes of conflict.

“We are also taking measures to prevent farmer-herder clashes by stopping underage children from rearing animals because we understand that in most cases, these boys cannot control the livestock,” he added.

He encouraged herders to send their children to school for a brighter future instead of sending them to the bush to rear animals.

The Emir also warned farmers to allow herders’ cattle to graze on designated cattle routes.

Earlier, the Chairman of the NUJ Yobe State Council, Comrade Rajab Muhammad, said the union was at the palace to seek the Emir’s support in sensitizing farmers and herders on the importance of peace.

He noted that the clashes between farmers and herders are an annual occurrence and that the NUJ is taking measures to reduce the conflict and restore lasting peace to the state.