Following series of complaints against Herdsmen wielding Firearms at residents in their host communities in the South West, the Council of Fulani Chiefs in the zone has put a ban on such act.
It further banned Night Grazing as well as Underaged-grazing in all South West States including Kwara State in the North Central geopolitical zone.
This was contained in an address read by Chairman of the Council and Sarki Fulani of Lagos, His Highness Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Bambado II, during a world press conference held in Lagos on Sunday September 7, 2025.
The move by the Council of Fulani Chiefs and Ardos is part of its continuous effort to bring lasting peace to Farmers/Herders clashes and sustain existing cordial relationship between them and their settlements' host communities.
The Council called for a holistic measure in stopping the menace of insecurity in the region and, by extension, Kwara State in North Central Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of the Council, Alhaji Bambado II said, "The council unanimously, with strong terms, affirms an absolute ban on Night grazing, Underage grazing, and herders carrying firearms and other related dangerous weapons that are not relevant to the profession.
"This indeed will contribute to effective sanity and peace in the sector," he said.
It recalled that for over 200 years, there has been a peaceful coexistence between the Fulanis and indigenous owners of the land in Yoruba Land of South West.
The Chairman further stated categorically that his Council was firm, committed and determined to pass on to future generations, the sustained cordiality of relationship and peace that they have maintained for those two centuries.
According to him, Council of Fulani Chiefs of South West Nigeria expressed its affirmation of commitment to those decisions it made which included collaboration with Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN Commission), the apex body of Fulani community in the South West, in ensuring safety and security across the region.
Condemning criminal acts among its members through any direct or collaboration of any sort with locals, the Sarki Fulani of Lagos said, "We condemn in totality any act of banditry, kidnapping, farmland destruction, and any form of farmer-herder conflict that could be linked to the Fulani community, as we charge the Security Agencies, specifically the Office of the National Security Adviser, to be deeply committed to fishing out the criminal element and their conspirator within the host communities while we charge media houses to report responsibly to mitigate ethnic profiling."
Sarki Bambado II, continuing, touched on the council's decision as it bothers on state-to-tate ban of migrant herders, announcing his resoluteness in a total ban on excessive influx of unregulated herder "with their highly voluminous cattle, which has recently become a major cause of farmers/herders' conflict across Southwest Nigeria."
He said, "Considering the current security realities of the country, it becomes pertinent to discourage herder migration from one state to another and encourage modern grazing patterns at any of our respective locations that could be sustainable."
Other decision made by the council was said to be that of ratification of the appointment of Sarkis, which Alhaji Mohammed Bambado II said must be brought under a standing rule of the organisation, adding that it will enable the body scrutinise before approving any new Sarki Fulani or representative being proposed to the council.
On achieving peace and livestock development, he said, "We have agreed to launch a comprehensive sensitisation and engagement tour to educate our people on adopting global best practices in livestock production and strict adherence to the law of the land, promoting peaceful coexistence, given the current security realities of the country.
Bambado added that across South West and parts of North Central, the Council has taken a decision to integrate Fulanis of Kwara State into its fold to ensure joint solution that is easy.
"Kwara State should be included under this council for a joint security solution, as any insecurity tendency I'm Kwara tends to spread into the southwest due to the close border posts through Ekiti State, Oyo State, and the Benin Republic, respectively," he said.
He however, highlighted the need for revival of nomadic education centers across Fulani settlements in the Southwest region, sadly noting that illiteracy had been one of the major causes of insecurity in Northern Nigeria and settlements of Fulani across the Southwest.
"Revival of nomadic education centers across Fulani settlements in the Southwest, Nigeria. It has been established that illiteracy is one of the major causes of insecurity in Northern Nigeria and settlements of Fulani across the Southwest. The significant decline in the establishment of nomadic schools at Fulani settlements is a threat to the future of our teeming youths," he said.
The Council said it is taking the proactive steps towards promoting peace, security, and harmonious coexistence between Fulani herders and host communities in the region.