A Magistrate Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State capital, has sentenced a herdsman to ten years’ imprisonment for destroying farm crops worth N50 million.
The herder, Dan-Bello, who was also accused of violating the state’s anti-open grazing law, was arraigned on over three counts of charges bordering on conspiracy, unlawful grazing, malicious damage, breach of peace, and illegal entry.
With the suspect found guilty on all counts, Dan-Bello had, on October 27, 2023, grazed his cattle on farmland belonging to the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria, NPPAN, situated at Ago Panu–Ute Road in Owo Local Government Area.
According to the prosecuting counsel, P.O. Nwafor, the herder left his cattle unchecked and in turn destroyed young palm trees and watermelons cultivated on two hectares of farmland. (Guardian)