The incident occurred in 2023 when Bello’s cattle destroyed palm trees and watermelons on two hectares of land…then returned the next day to set the farm ablaze.
An Akure Magistrate Court has sentenced a herder, Dab Bello, to 10 years imprisonment or the payment of N20 million in compensation for destroying farmland valued at N50 million.
Bello was found guilty on five counts, including conspiracy, unlawful grazing, malicious damage, breach of peace, and illegal entry.
The incident occurred in 2023 when Bello’s cattle destroyed palm trees and watermelons on two hectares of land belonging to the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN) in Owo LGA.
Prosecuting counsel P.O. Nwafor told the court the grazing was illegal and violated the state’s 2021 anti-open grazing law. She added, “The herders returned the next day to set the farm ablaze.”
Presiding Magistrate Damilola Sekoni sentenced Bello to varying jail terms on each count, to run concurrently. “The convict will be discharged only if he pays N20 million in compensation to the complainant,” Sekoni ruled, citing the credible evidence provided by the prosecution.