Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria is being sanitized of cattle rearers who persistently graze their animals at all cost into high-class residential areas creating inconveniences, ill-health and sleeplessness for residents.

It is shocking that with all the necessary security measures attached to the FCT, these cattle rearers with full determination can makeover their ways into the territory with over fifty cattle to create discomfort in the most expensive district in the capital city.

Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) vested with the responsibility of assuring sanity and peaceful existence in the FCT is facing serious challenges to get rid of these miscreants in the territory.

Early 2008, AEPB received series of petitions concerning inconveniences in Karu Site in the FCT where residents were forced to remain indoors when two fulani teenagers grazed their cattle to the neigh-bourhood and left the animals passing several nights there.

"The two teenage fulani boys harboured over fifty cattle between our estate and another thereby blocking roads leading to entrance of the two estates."

When the residents did not receive immediate response from the board, they had to park their vehicles in the neighbouring compounds and meander they ways there every morning.

"I park my car in the compound of my friend because there is no way I can drive out in the morning if the fulani men have not grazed their animals out and created way." said an inconvenienced resident."

One morning in April, before the residents could wake up, the board was at the scene, confirmed the allegation and arrested the cattle rearers and four cattle and took them to their office in Area 3, Garki for prosecution.

A family friend of the suspect told AEPB staff that the elder suspect was a stubborn person who had persistently turned his deaf ear to his father's instructions.

"The suspect's father lives in Mararaba very close to Karu Site where the suspect committed the offence. He has warned his son to desist from keeping the animals away from home, but the elder has never listened to him." he said.

The suspects were prosecuted and consequently convicted by the board's mobile court.

Many cattle rearers have been tried by the board's mobile court, but little improvement has been observed.

On another occasion, in the same Karu Site, another set of cattle drovers were arrested for creating inconveniences. These other set of rearers went and occupied an entire close with their cattle and loosened them to feed satisfactorily on very expensive flowers neatly arranged to beautify and give the environment a pleasant look.

During investigation, the suspects disclosed that they were not the rightful owners of the animals.

"They were entrusted to us by some members of the National Assembly. " said the boys.

Special Assistant to the Director on Security Matters, Investigation and Monitoring Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Titus Ndawa disclosed to Daily Trust that a day after the arrest, the board received a letter through two heralds of the National Assembly requesting for release of the animals and the boys.

"I directed then to the Chief Environmental Officer Mr Suleiman Haruna who equally turned down their request and directed them to the board's head office in Central Business District, Garki, they neither appeared there nor returned to Area 3 in pursuit of their grievances. "

Meanwhile, a fulani Chief resident in Mabushi in the FCT was at the board's office in Area 3 on behalf of the boys. He said he received the information from two young boys sent by the suspects.

"When they told me of the arrest, the first question I asked was whether they made trouble after the incident, but they were instructed to tell a lie and they did. It was when I arrived at the board that I heard the whole truth."

The fulani chief added their community had long maintained a friendly relationship with AEPB and would not entertain any mischievous act from their youth.

"I withdraw intention to plead for them and let the law take its course." he said.

Trial Magistrate Alkali Bashar tried the suspects and sentenced them to pay the sum of N100,000 or go to jail. They paid the fine without a frown.

On a certain evening in September, 2008, AEPB arrested two teenage cattle drovers grazing their animals along Prince and Princess Estate by Apo Area in the heart of the FCT.

The board hired butchers who grazed the cattle to AEPB in Area 3 for prosecution of the suspects. Early in the morning of the next day, the suspects were at the board's office. They stood at the gate, threatened and insisted that their animals should be released.

Meanwhile, they earlier invited ten of their age-mates to assist in causing havoc at AEPB in Area 3 so that the animals would be released. The accomplices were there before the herdsmen.

When the key suspects arrived at the gate, DSP Titus Ndawa (rtd) ordered that they should be stopped from entering the gate.

The elder made a backward movement, gather speed, jumped the barrier at the entrance of the gate and landed in the premises of the board. The ten accomplices who were already in the premises joined in an uproar. Before the situation could get out of control Supol Titus ordered the police to arrest the ten accomplices. AEPB police under the command of ASP Victor Alkali Agunu ordered the arrest of the ten suspects and they key suspects and detained them at FCT Police Command. They were tried and convicted.

In November, AEPB received a reminder following petitions written by residents of Maitama district in the FCT that two middle-aged fulani men harboured the cattle on an undeveloped land behind close to the windows of some residents.

The allegation was investigated by the Chief Environmental Officer of the board Mr Suleiman Haruna together with Special Assistant to the Director on Security Matters, Investigation and Monitoring DSP Titus Ndawa (rtd).

Supol Titus Ndawa informed Daily Trust that the cattle drovers occupied a large expanse of undeveloped land at Lake Chad Crescent in Maitama District of the FCT creating a lot of inconveniences.

The retired Police Officer equally added that on their way to the place they met a young man who purchased manure from the suspects.

"The man gave us adequate information of the daily routine of the suspects that they leave 'home' as early as 5 a. m. and return 12 a. m."

At their place of rest, said DSP Titus Ndawa, there were about fifteen calves and kids too young to go out for pasturing. Exactly 5 a. m. next day, we were there, but came across the herdsmen hastening their way out of the environment.

The frightened fulani men confessed that they kept their cattle behind the fence and residents actually lamented inconveniences.

"They spoke their language briefly,and to our surprise, the cattle separated and moved towards each herdsman and away each left in full flight cattle leading."

There were some however some lanimals who could not cope with the speed. Chief Environmental Officer Mr Suleiman Haruna suggested that they should be arrested and taken to their office in Area 3, Garki.

This action made the herdsmen appear for prosecution and conviction at the mobile court.

Mr Suleiman Haruna equally told Daily Trust that from reliable source the suspects left 'home' before 5a. m. to avoid the law enforcement agents and return by 12 a. m. when the world is asleep.

When they arrive at that time, residents complained that the movement and mooing of the cattle woke all sleeping residents. Children never understood what was happened as the gradual approach of the feet of the animals towards the wall created the impression of an impending dander coming into the room. At this time children cried and cattle mooed. Mothers find it difficult to explain to their little children who shook with fright the reason for the sudden rise from sleep.

"They have never seen cattle in their life, and no adequate explanation was satisfactory enough to create the image of a cattle." residents said.

In the afternoon, they added, we do not open our windows and doors because tsetse-flies are everywhere in the environment. We are always locked indoors whenever we are at home.

Reliable sources of infor-mation had it that residents pay N5 million to shelter in Lake Chad Crescent where the alleged inconveniences took place.

When officers of the board first came across

The suspects, they pleaded that they would leave the area next day. At court, they added that like other cattle drovers, they prefer the highly nutritious grassland in the FCT that has not been cultivated to decades. "A serious seasonal grazing in the territory overfattens the animals and keeps them healthier than one can imagine." they said.

They equally added that they are residents of Gwarimpa Estate and had their families there, but for the cattle to feed they had to relocate to the undeveloped land where the owners of the cattle directed them to dwell giving them assurance that there was nothing to dread.

Residents expressed their gratitude to the board and commended their effort b in bringing back unperturbed night rest in the district.

"After series of petitions we, thought the board would not respond to our suffering. Many of us had started developing some negative feelings about the board when one day we received news that senior staff of the board were in the environment and went round the place to confirm the allegation. We could not believe the statement because thought you would need someone to lead you there."

When Daily Trust interviewed the Chief Environmental Officer Mr Suleiman Haruna on the gravity of the punishment awaiting cattle drovers who trespass into the FCT, he said there has been series of convictions according to specifications of environmental laws when such offences are committed.

"Rearing or keeping animals or birds likely to cause environmental nuisance or neglect; or failure to confine the animals or birds to keepers' premises is guilty of an offence and liable to conviction or fine not less than N5,000 or prison term of three months or both."

A violation of this law, he added, is punishable under Section 20 (b) of FCT Environmental Law.

In response, the Chief Environmental Officer Mr Suleiman Haruna said there are many cases of cattle drovers before the board and it took sequential arrangement to reach the issue at Maitama.

"Do not be discouraged whenever there are matters like this let the board know earlier so that the miscreants would be arrested and brought to book."