Rice farmers in Nguru Local Government Area of Yobe State have appealed to the government for a lasting solution as herders destroyed their farmlands.
Kalisu Gure, the owner and Manager of Slightedge Rice Mill lamented that the company lost large hectares of its 200 hectares of farmland to the recent invasion of the herders.
He disclosed that herders with their cattle in large numbers have over the last one month been trespassing their farms and destroying goods worth millions of naira.
According to him, the situation has been scaring investors and threatening the job opportunities for hundreds of youths in the area.
“There is the need for government to quickly intervene to avoid a clash that may occur because farmers cannot continue to look away if the destruction continues and it will lead to violent conflict.
“We are in Nguru for business, so we established a rice factory that’s why we opened a farm there and we have provided reasonable jobs to the residents in both the farm and the rice mill.
“We are doing good, unfortunately, nowadays we are demoralised by the activities of the herders on our farms, they are really destroying our investment.
“When they started invading our farms we asked for reasons and some of them suggested that farmers had overgrazed their cattle routes and therefore had no option than to encroach on our farms.
“We agreed with their explanation and later resolved to open some cattle routes for them which cost us a lot of resources.
“But despite our efforts, they keep on coming and chasing their cattle into our farms, at the moment I have lost over 18 hectares of my rice farm.
“Apart from the farms, they have blocked the water channels I’ve dredged, which is about 1.5km long, to my irrigation site using it as a dam to give water for their cattle. They are not just peace-loving people,’’ he said.
He said although they had engaged some guards to look after their farms, they had asked them not to fight the herders, “because we don’t want to disturb the peace of the community is enjoying “.
Another farmer, Bashir Auwalu, said they used to experience herders’ invasion almost every year and small arguments might lead to deadly clashes.
“Our community leaders and security agencies are doing their best but sometime before you even report to them the herders must have left the place.’’
He appealed to the government and security authorities to come up with drastic measures to address the situation.
When contacted the Police Public Relations Officer, Dungus Abdulkarim told our reporter that Yobe Police Command has in the last few years reduced farmer/ herder clashes to the barest minimum.
He said: “As I speak to you now, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Yahaya Sahabo Abubakar had held a meeting with all the Head of Departments (HODs) and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and some community leaders today.
“The major emphasis at their meeting was basically averting incidences that may trigger farmer/herder clashes in the state especially now that the rainy season is approaching”.
“Of course, measures are put in place to reduce the menace but I strongly advise for anyone that has such complaints should report to the nearest police station for proper action”
Last year, about five people lost their lives and several others injured in clashes between farmers and herders in the state.
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