Jigawa Special Court Orders Nine Herders to Pay ₦500 Million in Compensation to Farmers

Jigawa Special Court Orders Nine Herders to Pay ₦500 Million in Compensation to Farmers

Dutse, Jigawa State — In a landmark ruling aimed at addressing escalating farmer-herder conflicts, a Jigawa State Farmers and Herders Special Court has ordered nine cattle herders to pay ₦500 million in compensation to farmers whose crops were destroyed in Birnin Kudu Local Government Area of the state. The judgment was handed down on Tuesday, January 21, 2026, following more than two years of legal proceedings initiated by the Jigawa State Commissioner of Police. 

Presiding over the case, Judge Yusuf Abubakar based his verdict on relevant provisions of the Penal Code, including offences related to unlawful grazing and destruction of property. The herders — including a principal defendant identified as Ilu Adamu and eight others — were found guilty on multiple counts, notably for allowing their cattle to stray into cultivated farmlands, resulting in widespread destruction of crops in the Kwarsa, Larau and Tukuda forest areas of Birnin Kudu LGA. 

The ruling also addressed allegations that the defendants burned a tractor tyre and a motorcycle belonging to the state chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), a separate offence under the Penal Code. For this individual act of property damage, the court ordered an additional ₦500,000 in compensation. The judgment further held that some herders caused bodily harm to farmers during the incidents — violations of provisions dealing with personal harm and unlawful conduct. 

In delivering his judgment, Judge Abubakar noted the need to protect farmers’ livelihoods and uphold the rule of law amid recurrent clashes between farmers and pastoralists, which have periodically erupted over land use and grazing rights in parts of northern Nigeria. The defendants were given 30 days to appeal the judgment, a window during which they may challenge the amount or findings in a higher court. 

The decision by the special court — established by Jigawa State to expedite resolution of disputes between agriculturists and herders — underscores the judiciary’s determination to deter unlawful grazing practices and repair the economic losses suffered by farming communities. Local leaders welcomed the ruling as a milestone for justice, with advocates expressing hope that it will encourage peaceful coexistence and adherence to designated grazing routes and land use policies. 

At the same time, defence counsel present at the proceedings declined to comment immediately on the court’s decision, and it remains unclear whether any of the convicts will pursue an appeal. Observers say the substantial compensation order reflects not only the severity of the agricultural losses but also the broader imperative to safeguard rural livelihoods and reduce the likelihood of retaliatory violence. 

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