A JIGAWA State Farmers and Herders Special Court has ordered nine cattle herders to pay N500million as compensation to farmers whose crops they destroyed in Birnin Kudu Local Council of the state.
Relying on relevant provisions of the Penal Code, including sections 78, 19 and 322, Yusuf Abubakar gave the ruling on Tuesday, January 20, in the case was filed by the state Commissioner of Police against Ilu Adamu and eight other defendants, after over two years of hearing.
According to Premium Times, the accused persons were charged, among others, with unlawfully permitting their cattle to wander into cultivated farmlands, leading to extensive destruction of crops, contrary to Section 97 of the Penal Code.
The Judge held the defendants responsible for the destruction of property belonging to the state chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN).
He found that the herders burned a tractor tyre and a motorcycle owned by the AFAN chairman, an offence punishable under Section 326 of the Penal Code, and ordered them to pay N500,000 as compensation.
Abubakar further ruled that the defendants caused bodily harm to some farmers during the incidents, an act which violated Sections 332 and 114 of the Penal Code.
After reviewing the evidence presented by the prosecution, he found the herders guilty on all counts and consequently ordered the defendants to pay N500million in damages to the affected farmers.
The Judge granted the defendants 30 days to file an appeal against the judgment.
The incidents occurred in the Kwarsa, Larau and Tukuda Forest areas of Birnin Kudu Council, which have witnessed persistent clashes between farmers and herders over land use and grazing rights.
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