The University of Ilorin and Fulani Settlements: Options for Non-Adversarial Assertion of

Rights
Background
Illegal occupation of land

Issues to bear in mind in defining the problem and mapping relationships:

1. Town-Gown relations
2. Safety of Staff and Students
3. Disruption of School calendar
4. Negotiation across Cultures
5. Negotiation between civic/modernity and tradition
6. Do you need negotiation or mediation?
7. If mediation which type? Multiparty or single party
8. Is it a matter of development/urban planning or identity or an intersection of the
two
9. Power balance and cost using power

Background
While interviewing the Bolorunduro heads, they made it clear that they make use of guns and
these guns are not to arm anyone but to protect themselves and to hunt. They declare their
awareness of the fact that hunting is prohibited on University lands but they claimed that this is
their source of survival and they cannot please the University at their own detriment. They claim
that land belongs to God almighty and that he has not restricted anyone from grazing or hunting
anywhere. Alhaji Bukatini Jamiu, one of the elders of the clan requested that for peace to exist
between them and the University, the University has to provide them with wide expanse of land
for grazing and hunting. Others claimed that if the University seizes their cattle they would not
take it likely and as such, whenever they graze on the University so called grazing land, the best
thing for the University to do is to ensure that they talk to them peacefully and they will vacate
their land. They claimed that their cattle is their most cherished asset and are willing to do

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anything to protect them. Major Fulani settlements and communities on the lands belonging to
the University of Ilorin:
1. Gaa Sentu
2. Gaa Uthman
3. Gaa Jalala
4. Gaa Alasie
5. Gaa Bolorunduro
6. Ile-Apa

Some dates of arrests by the University Community

1. The apprehension of a cow abandoned by a Fulani Nomad caught feeding his cow on
University land on 1st December 2005;
2. The apprehension of two herds of cattle being grazed by a Nomadic Fulani on 23 rd
December 2006;
3. At about 15.30 hours on Sunday, 4th July 2009, a cow strayed into Unilorin earth dam, got
apprehended and later released to the owner with a strong warning to keep off University land;
4. On January, 8th, 2010, a cow was apprehended and taken to the University of Ilorin farm;
5. On 18th January 2010, twelve (12) Fulani nomads who trespassed into Unilorin land were
apprehended and handed over to the Police;
6. On March 12th, 2010, three (3) herds of cattle were apprehended and taken to Unilorin
Farms;
7. on 29th March 2010, nomadic Fulani invaded Unilorin Farm and stole seventeen (17)
head of cattle and sixteen (16) sheep belonging to Unilorin;
8. On 15th June 2011, a cow was apprehended and taken to ‘F’ Division Police Station;
9. On 3rd August 2010, Security men patrolled round the illegal settlements and observed
that the Fulani had refused to vacate Unilorin land as directed by the Management;
10. On Sunday, 18th December 2010, five (5) cows were apprehended; four escaped while the
remaining one was handed over to the Police. While at the Police Station, the cow attacked the
University driver and passers-by. The cow was eventually shot and killed by the police;
11. Mr. James Daisi Oni (Patrolman) was brutally attacked by the Nomadic Fulani on his
way to old Sugar Research Institute farm on 15th December 2010;

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12. Muhammed Sanni Abdullahi (Nomadic Fulani) who attacked Mr. Oni was arrested by the
Vice-Chancellor on 14th February 2011 at the Senior Staff Quarters and handed over to the Police
for prosecution;
13. On 12th June 2011, a Nomadic Fulani who took his cattle for grazing on Unilorin land ran
away on sighting security men. One of his cows was apprehended and handed over to the police;
14. On 28th July 2011, security men went round the illegal settlements of Fulani Nomads and
observed that despite the quit notice, they had refused to move out;
15. The apprehension of a stray cow on 14th August 2011;
16. On 16th September 2011, a Nomadic Fulani, Kiri Muhammed was arrested for trespass
and handed over to the Police;
17. On 1st January 2012, the Unilorin Teak Plantation was set on fire by Nomadic Fulanis
who ran away.
18. On 6th February, 2013, a young Fulani nomad of about fifteen years old goes violent.
19. On 13th May, 2013 at Sugar Research Institute opposite AMTI Ajase Ipo road Ilorin, some
Fulani axed a part of the Fence housing the said research centre.
20. On 19th May, 2013, a part of the fence was also axed by the said Fulanis
21. On 24th May, 2014, an employed Fulani nomad by the University of Ilorin was attacked
by Gaa Bolorunduro Cattle herders with a Gun

In an interview with a sixty five (65) year old Fulani herder, Alhaji Muhammad Sanni Abubakar
and five (5) other members of his clan, he made it clear that the adults in his clan do not herd but
their children do and that he as the head of the clan ensures that they graze within limits. His
children stated that they graze in all bushes except the University plantation that they had been
specifically warned not to trespass. Alhaji Muhammad also stated that if the University could
give them at Gaa Sentu a particular space of land for grazing they would be grateful. Other
members of the Gaa Sentu that were randomly interviewed also noted that they have nothing
against the University as there has been no cause for disagreement between them and the
University. They stated that the only thing that could cause disagreement between them and the
University is if the University should seize their cattle or cheat them for no reason. While
interviewing one of the chiefs in Sentu, Alhaji Mustopha Kazeem he noted that the University of
Ilorin has never written or invited them for any reason before and that the University has never

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requested them to evacuate the University space they occupy. He also stated categorically that
once the University does not fight them or use force on them they would never be a threat to the
University. The eldest youth in Gaa Sentu also stated that they at Gaa Sentu only make use of
Cutlass and stick for protecting themselves from animals when they graze, and that if any news
has ever been reported of an attack from Gaa Sentu it would be false news.
Some Efforts at Peaceful Resolution
Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor told the meeting that the Emir had called him the penultimate
day to the meeting stating that he recalled that the Fulani, while stating their readiness to move,
had lamented what they would be losing by so doing. The Emir therefore enquired from the
Vice-Chancellor what the University was willing to offer the Fulanis in their new location. The
Vice-Chancellor’s In-House Committee (VCHC) agreed to provide the following for the Fulanis
at their new location (key informant).
i) A block of four classrooms;
ii) A two bedroom flat; and
iii) Two boreholes.
To this effect, the Administration wrote a letter to the Emir informing him of the University’s
willingness to provide through his Palace, despite this it was painfully realized that the Nomads
failed to honour agreements reached.