The Jigawa State Farmers–Herders Special Court, sitting in Dutse, has delivered a landmark judgment with the conviction and sentencing of nine herders for offences linked to the destruction of farmlands and the breach of public peace, reinforcing the state’s resolve to curb recurring farmer–herder conflicts.
The defendants were found guilty of conspiracy, mischief by fire, damage to farm produce and disturbance of public peace, offences punishable under the Penal Code Laws of Jigawa State.
However, the case, filed by the Commissioner of Police in 2023, stemmed from incidents recorded in Gayawa, Gurjiya, Kursa and Tukuda forest areas of Birnin Kudu Local Government Area.
Delivering judgment, Magistrate Yusuf Rabiu Abubakar held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, noting that the evidence presented clearly established the culpability of the accused persons.
According to the court, the convicts jointly destroyed crops and farming implements across approximately 1,500 hectares of farmland, resulting in losses estimated at over ₦700 million and affecting numerous farmers in the area.
The magistrate disclosed that the prosecution called 12 witnesses, whose testimonies were adjudged credible and consistent, while the defence failed to call any witness or present evidence in rebuttal.
Each of the nine convicts was sentenced to one month imprisonment on each count, with an option of a ₦10,000 fine per count. In addition, the court ordered them to jointly pay ₦500,000 to the affected farmers, as well as another ₦500,000 to the Jigawa State Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Engineer Auwalu Garba, as compensation for damaged tractor tyres and a motorcycle.
Reacting to the judgment, Engineer Garba described the ruling as a significant deterrent against farm encroachment and a confidence booster for farmers across the state. He called on both farmers and herders to abide by the law, respect designated grazing routes and forest reserves, and avoid taking the law into their own hands.
The judgment is widely viewed as a strong signal by the Jigawa State Government and the judiciary to protect agricultural livelihoods, strengthen food security, and promote peaceful coexistence between farming and pastoral communities.
