Farmers Demand #2billion From FG Over Alleged Destruction Of Farms By Cattles

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Farmers in Ondo state yesterday demanded for #2Billion as compensation from the Federal government for the alleged destruction of their farm land by cattle reared by Fulanis in the state.

Besides, the farmers also threatened to wage serious war against Fulani herdsmen if their cattles are not checked against incessant invasion of their farms.
In a communique issued at the end of a one day summit organized by the Farmers Congress in the state, the Farmers warned the Federal Government against aiding Fulani herdsmen, saying every individual responsible for the destruction of their farms should be prosecuted and face the music.

The communique signed by Mr Akin Olotu, the State chairman of the congress also stressed the need for the Federal Government to create an avenue for proper identification of all herdsmen in the country.

According to the communique series of havoc were recorded in all parts of the country as a result of clashes between farmers and Fulani herdsmen in different parts of the country.

The communique reads in part “In 2015 alone, report indicated that over 7000 people have been killed in these conflicts. When compared with Boko Haram insurgency with about 2,500 people annually, it is like we have over-simplified the problem.”

“The peculiarity of our state must not be forgotten by any individual or institution. Our farmers are largely into tree crops; cocoa and oil-palm plantations are all over the state, they constitute our main
internal source of income as a state and an agrarian people, it takes years to nurse and get them established. They are heritage usually left behind from generations to generations. When set ablaze, they hardly recover. It is therefore a taboo here to set fire anyhow.”
“Farm investments running into several billions of naira have been ruined and our farmers are licking their wounds. When a young cocoa tree is lost to fire, the loss is not just restricted to the yield of
that year, but the investment in land preparation, planting, nursing and the potential yield projected over 10-15 years. The menace is not restricted to crops alone; fish ponds are being ravaged as well.
Cattle are brought there to drink water continuously and the net used in covering the ponds are destroyed; fishes in those ponds are stolen and growth of the remaining ones are hampered. Bee-Keepers are not left out.”
“Various cases are incidented in our police stations across the state without any positive outcome. How do you identify the herdsmen that ravage your farm in the wee hours of the night? How do you confront a desperate man armed to the teeth with various offensive weapons? How
do you guarantee the safety of your household or your community at night, if you fight back during the day? We have a very serious case at hand,” the communique added.

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