Olamide Francis
Hundreds of farmers from Egbe, in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State on Monday took to the streets to protest what they described as an incessant destruction of farmlands and crops worth millions of Naira by suspected Fulani herdsmen, Nature News gathered.
The disgruntled farmers called for the state government immediate intervention to avoid further degeneration of the crisis, saying they can no longer watch herdsmen destroy farmlands and crops they toiled for one year to cultivate.
The spokesman of the farmers, Mr Wale Oti, briefed newsmen on the incident, while lamenting the way and manner in which the farms and crops waiting to be harvested were totally destroyed.
Oti explained that Egbe is a boundary town between Kogi and Kwara state, with about 50,000 inhabitants, whose major source of livelihood is farming. He stated that majority of the farmers have been enduring these incessant destructions of their farmlands for years, but situation became worse with the warm reception accorded them by the Kogi State government, as the herdsmen came in droves to settle in the area.
“Majority of the farmers who have been labouring on their farms since the onset of raining season, who are optimistic of having something to harvest, got to their farms on Sunday morning to see total grazing down of their farm .
“This brought about the peaceful protest to the traditional ruler of the town, the Elegbe of Egbe, Oba Ayo Irukera, to call the herdsmen to order, but we are making another one to further butress our bitterness and pain towards what the herdsmen are doing to us.
“As they began the peaceful protest this morning, police officers came to dislodge them, but farmers mobilise themselves peacefully and went to the palace of Elegbe.
“Arrest was made yesterday of 2 cows which were caught on a farm, so farmers could not go to the police station to avoid harassment
“While the protest was going on two Fulani herdsmen were found with gun, they were disarmed and taken to police station,” he stated.