Farmers operating at Idege farm, a farmstead under Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, are currently groaning, as suspected herders destroyed several hectares of farmlands in the area.
Mostly affected by the activities of these vandals were cassava and yam farmers, whose farms spanning several hectares of land, were ravaged by cattle that were being reared free-ranged by some Fulani Nomads.
One of the victims, who identified himself as Isa Ibrahim, at the weekend said that over 30 farmers operating in the area were affected by the destruction with multi-million naira crops destroyed.
Ibrahim narrated that the herders had allegedly been terrorising the area for the past two years, attacking people on their farmlands when resisted and causing wanton destruction to their crops.
The victim said the suspected herders were at that time on the prowl, beating farmers at will and destroying their farms over accusation that some cows were killed in the area.
According to him, “Though, they had been coming to beat us and caused destruction to our farms, which we reported to the security agencies, but without serious action. We have been enduring this for a long.
“But the current destruction was massive. They destroyed over 4,000 heaps of cassava on my farm alone apart from the havoc they wreaked on my brother-law’s farm. Over 30 of us were affected.
“In some instances, they went to the new yam farms we just cultivated, brought out the yam seeds, and cut for their cattle. Some of us are currently removing the seeds for safekeeping until the situation abates so that we can replant.
“They were not just destroying the cassava by eating up the leaves and stems, but they also uprooted the tubers to feed their animals. These were callous acts and the government shouldn’t allow these to happen without any check.
“Farming is our means of economic livelihood and self-sustaining. These people are silently killing us. They are destroying our means of survival with intention of sending us back to beggarly life.
“Time for government to take action is now, because we know how much we contribute to attainment of food security in Ekiti from that axis.”
He appealed to Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti Command, Dare Ogundare and the Commandant of the State Amotekun Corps, Brig. Gen. Olu Adewa (retd) to save them from unwarranted and willful destruction being wreaked on their farms in the farmstead.
“The police and even Amotekun corps were all aware of our plights at Idege Farm. We had reported our situation to them severally, but it seems these vandals thought they were above the law and this shouldn’t be allowed to happen,” he said.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Brig. Gen. Ebenezar Ogundana (retd) said the state government was working round the clock to put an to end conflicts between farmers and herders, ensuring that there was mutual respect between the two sides as business people.
He said, “We arrest herders who destroy farms. Some of those arrested by police and Amotekun recently are either with the police or their matters have gone to court. Some of them are already in detention. Some have been made to pay compensation and sign an undertaking. What we want is that there should be no cause for conflict between farmers and herders.”
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