| An Igangan-based farmer, Alfa Sikiru Akinlotan, from Gbogi Compound, Isale Akao Area, Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government, died on his farm on Wednesday after Fulani herdsmen set his cashew and cocoa farm ablaze. He died while trying to quench the fire on his farm.The commandant of Amotekun in the state, Col. Olayinka Olayanju, confirmed the incident in Ibadan on Wednesday night.Olayanju said; “Alfa Sikiru Akinlotan from Gbogi Compound, Isale Akao area, Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government, died inside his farm at Itigbo, Apodun Road, Igangan, on Wednesday, February 10, 2021.”It happened that his cocoa and cashew farm was set ablaze. He met his untimely death while he was trying to quench the fire. Hee was never attacked by any Fulani nor any other person.”Though Olayinka could not establish who set the farm ablaze in his statement, a source in Igangan told SaharaReporters that it was done by the Fulani herdsmen who are hellbent on destroying Yoruba farmers’ properties.The source said, “Can fire destroy a farm without somebody setting it ablaze? This is one of the reasons behind the notice to quit Yorubaland.”If Wakili and his men are still operating in Ayete, Igangan and Tapa axis, we cannot sleep with our two eyes closed. Don’t forget a similar thing happened in Ayete recently when the farm of Odomofin, Baba Saubana, was set ablaze. All their cashew farms were destroyed.” |
Tag: Farmers
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Farmer Dies In Ibadan After Fulani Herdsmen Set His Cashew Farm Ablaze
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Adamawa: 300 Farmers sue NACOTAN, Over 46 Million Compensation
By Musa Isa Ahmed
About 300 Members of Alheri Farmers Association in Adamawa dragged the state chapter of National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN) Clustering Farming Model 2020 Wet Season to Upper Area court II for allegedly defrauding them.
The affected farmers are demanding the whooping of 46.650milion as compensation over alleged loss they incurred as a result of NACOTAN’s refusal to give them inputs as agreed for wet season farming activities in the year 2020.
The association in a criminal summons issued against the leadership of NACOTAN said that the complainants applied for Agric loan sometimes in the year 2020 from the Federal Government’s Anchor Borrower Loan Scheme through NACOTAN but the inputs released to them through NACOTAN for onward distribution to the farmers were diverted, causing loss of not less than #150,000 by each farmer.
The leadership of the association alleged that the government had released 12 items to Alhaji Usman Abubakar led NACOTAN to be distributed to all the farmers, but the union ended up giving them 4 items including Undelinted Planting Seeds, Fungicides-Mancozeb Carbandazin, Glyphosate and Pendelin and kept 8 items including fertilizer, cotton made harvest bags among others.
According to them, the union had collected particulars of their members which include names, phone numbers and Bank Verification Number (BVN) for the purpose of accessing the loan on their behalf for the purpose of wet season farming cotton, and that after collecting the inputs, the defendants refused to give them but misappropriated same.
The complainants added that the defendants have kept on intimidating them that they must pay for all the items including what they did not collect, explaining that the conduct of the defendants amounts to offences of criminal misappropriation, criminal breach of trust, cheating, defamation of character, and intimidation contrary to sections 299, 302, 312, 377 and 382 of the penal code law of Adamawa.
Alhaji Sale Shuaibu Zariya led association further disclosed that the defendants planted the seeds given to them, and that the defendants refused to give them the remaining inputs which led to the destruction of what they earlier planted causing a lot of hardship and huge loss.
According to them, the defendants also collected the sum of #5,500 from every farmer for the purpose of opening account and deposit, but that refused to deposit even a dime into their accounts, pointing out that the defendants further collected particulars of thousand of farmers including theirs, and that they were afraid that the particulars may be used in accessing loan for dry season farming.
The association has also sought for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants from collecting loan from any financial institution on behalf of any person pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
When the matter came up for mention on Friday, counsel to the defendants, Barrister N. I. El-Yakub, urged the court to give him short date to file further better affidavit in respect of notice of preliminary objection.
The court presided over by Honourable Dan John adjourned the matter to 8,the February, 2021 so as to enable the defendants’ counsel to file an affidavit.
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Herdsmen Shot Farmers, Burn Cashew Farm In Oyo Community
Some suspected Fulani herdsmen have burnt about ten acres of cashew farm, near Wakili Fulani village, Kajola Ayete, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State.
We learnt that the farm, belonging to a 90-year-old Yoruba man, Chief Oyewole, was burnt because the nonagenarian was one of those who had complained about the criminal activities of Fulani herdsmen in his village.
Our correspondent gathered that seven youths on Wednesday went to the Fulani settlement to inform Wakili, the Fulani leader in the area, about some criminal activities his children were doing and invite him to the palace of a traditional leader in the town.
Our source however said that on getting to the village, Wakili and his men shot four farmers and quickly went to burn the farm close to his settlement.
Confirming the development to SaharaReporters, Chief Saubana Omileke Oyewole, Odomofin of Ayete, said the farm that was destroyed belongs to his elder brother.
He described Wakili as a monster in Ayete, while likening him to the Seriki Fulani of Igangan, Alhaji Saliu Abdulkadir, whose house and cars were recently burnt by some youths in Igangan and had to flee the community.
The arson attack followed a seven-day ultimatum given by a Yoruba activist popularly known as Sunday Igboho to Fulani herdsmen in the area to leave, blaming them for the spate of kidnappings and killings in the area.
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Two farmers killed, as troops averted bloody clash in Kaduna
By Gabriel Udeh, Kaduna
Two farmers have been reportedly killed by armed bandits in lgabi local government area of Kaduna state.
They were killed during a kidnap incident at Chikaji village when armed bandits invaded the residence of one Alhaji Yunusa Gambo, a farmer in the village, and attempted to kidnap him, along with one Mallam Surajo.
Similarly, army troops, under the auspices of Operation Safe Haven have allegedly averted what would have been a bloody clash between some herders and farmers in Jema’a local government area of Kaduna state.
A statement by Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State, averred that the victims were killed during a failed kidnapped attempt.
According to the statement by Aruwan, the armed bandits shot the duo in an attempt to flee from been kidnapped.
The commissioner stated that Governor Nasir El-Rufai has commiserated with the families of the deceased, and prayed for the repose of their souls.
He also stated that the Security agencies are investigating the incident and sustaining patrols in the area.
In a similar situation, troops under the auspices of Operation Safe Haven have averted what would have been a bloody clash between some herders and farmers in Jema’a local government area.
The incident took place at Ungwan Marwa and Marmara communities in the local government area when cattle, under the care of one Bayerajo Sule destroyed farms belong to three farmers listed as:
Abigail Michael ,Emmanuel Bulus and Jonathan Vincent.
Individuals supporters from both herders’ and farmers’ sides, instead of appealing for calm, are alleged to have instigate the respective parties for a clash.
In the process, one Alhaji Abdullahi Idi, Gamji Alhaji , Apollos Auta and Matthew Moses, were arrested for further interrogation.
The Governor thanked the troops for their prompt action in averting the violence, and appealed to citizens to maintain recourse to the law.
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BOSG to Partner NSCDC To Protect Farmers In Borno
By Dauda R PamMaiduguri
Borno state government has declared it’s willingness to partner with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in order to effectively provide protection to farmers in collaboration with Agro Rangers to avoid a repeat of the Zabarmari farmers killings across the state more so that IDPs are returning to their ancestral homes.
This was the response of BORNO state GOVERNOR, BABAGANA UMARA ZULUM, while receiving in audience the commandant general of the NSCDC,Abdullahi Gana Mohammed,who paid a condolence visit to the government and people of the state over the recent massacre of ZABARMARI farmers in Koshefe village.“I want to thank you for the sympathy and condolence visit and also to assure you that government will partner with you in hosting the workshop on security aimed at protecting our farmers”.
Earlier in an address,the commandant general of the NSCDC,Abdullahi Gana Mohammed, represented by the Assistant commandant general, Training and Manpower,Zakari Ibrahim Ningi,said the basic responsibility of any government is to ensure security and welbeing of its citizens as there can never be any meaningful development if it’s citizens are traumatized by security challenges.
He said,”We are here to condole the government and people of BORNO state over the killing of over 40 farmers in ZABARMARI village and to also solicit for cooperation and assistance from the government on the proposed 2-day capacity building workshop for officers and men in the Northeast as part of efforts to address the security challenges facing the zone.
According to him,“the training is part of the strategy. We are trying to review the strategy and see where we have done better and where we need to restrategize. This is the essence of this proposed workshop and His Excellency had come out to say he is ready to partner with NSCDC that the state government will assist the Agro Rangers in protecting our farmers.”” The concept of Agro Rangers was the initiative of our commandant General which has been effective and has help in no small way in ensuring that our farmers get to their farms and do their farming activities safely”, he added..
On the issues of recruitment and deployment of more men of NSCDC to Borno state, the Commandant General said ” today the 8th of December, 2020 is the day of writing examination for the recruitment into the NSCDC. I assured you more Borno indigenes will be employed and deployed to the state”.
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Farmers Protests Against Destruction of Farmland, Crops By Herdsmen In Kogi
By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
Farmers from Egbe Community in Yagba West local council of Kogi State on Monday took to streets against incessant destruction of farmlands and crops by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
The Irate farmers during the peaceful protest urged the State government to call the herdsmen in the area to order to avoid Farmers/herdmen clashes that may arise as a result of desttuction of farmland and crops waiting for harvest.
The spokesman of the farmers, Mr.Wale Oti who spoke to newsmen on the incident lamented that the way and manner in which the farms and crops waiting for harvest have been destroyed are unquantifiable and posing eminent famine in the land.
Oti explained that Egbe is a boundary town between Kogi and Kwara State, with about 50,000 inhabitant whose major source of livelihood is farming stressing that the present destruction of farm produce by the suspected Fulani herdsmen may bring hardship to the citizenry sooner than later.
He pointed out that farmers Market n the community had endured enough but reacted now because of the worst situation in which they found themselves, coupled with the warm reception by the state government to the herdsmen that came in their numbers to settle in the community.
“Despite the fact that several reports have been made to the Elegbe of Egbe, oba Ayo Irukera to call the herdsmen to order, we are making another move to further butress our bitterness and pain over what the herdsmen are doing to us.”
During the peaceful protest on Monday, it was gathered that police came to dislodge them, but farmers conducted themselves peaceful and went to the palace of Elegbe of Egbe as their final bus stop of the protest.
“While the protest was on, it was discovered that two Fulani herdsmen were found with gun which they were disarmed and taking to police station for further investigation,” he stated.
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S/Kaduna Joint Peace C’tee Urge Farmers to Open Cattle Routes
By Ujah Simon, kaduna
The Southern Kaduna joint Peace Committee inaugurated by the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Rev. Monday Pam has urged farmers in the region to open all Cattle Routes as Herders Trans-humans will be returning for grazing as they approach dry season.
Co-Chairmen of the Committee, Professor Ben Gugwong and Dr. Ahmad Yande gave the advised during a courtesy visit to 12 Chiefdoms and Emirs in Southern Kaduna.
The Committee disclosed this while in Agwam Bajju Palace in Zonkwa the headquarters of Zango Kataf local government area of Kaduna State as well as the Chief Palace of Kagoro respectively in Kaura local government of Kaduna state.
The duo stressed that one of the major remote causes of the Herders/Farmers clashes that need to be immediately address is to ensure all Cattle routes are open for Fulani Herders who would be returning for grazing during the dry season.
According to them, the 10-Man committee was inaugurated to consolidate on the already peace effort built and continue to find lasting solutions to handful problems that are still existing in some parts of the region.
The committee also urged the Chiefs to help talk to their subordinates who will also assist in conscientising the local Farmers at the grass roots about the Cattle routes to ensure peace is totally restored in the areas.
“We want to go back to our normal way of life where you find it difficult to distinguish between a Fulani Man and a Bajju Man or Kagoro Man”, he said.
Dr. Yande specifically commended Agwam Bajju for the relative peace in his Chiefdom, praying that the Chiedom will continue to experience peace.
Responding, the Agwam Bajju 1, His Highness, Mal. Nuhu Bature commended the committee for their tactfulness and for working for peace in Southern Kaduna.
The Royal Highness, appealed to the Committee to help advised both the Farmers and Herders to stay away from the Kurmin B Forest which has been reserve for history.
“The Kurmin B Forest has been there before we were born for almost 400 years and we must not allow it to be tempered with,” Nuhu Bature said.
Similarly, the Chief of Kagoro, Mr. Afuwei Bonet said without peace there is no human existence, adding we must all work for peace and consider humanity first as we all came from the same God.
He further explained that one of the major problem of the Farmers/Herders is the under-age Children who are seen grazing and do not have the capacity to control Cows, calling on the Fulani Herders to always ensure a matured person is attach to the underage Children whenever they’re going for grazing.
The monarch noted that most of them Schooled in Zaria were they visited Mosques, while the Muslims visited their Churches and no one’s religion was ever been insulted.
He blame the current security challenges that have grappled the country on modern education and politics, stressing that if the political class play a clean politics everything will work for everybody.
The committee is expected to finish its mandate on Friday and to handover their reports to Governor Nasir el-Rufai for implementation. -
Zamfara Emir Enjoins Farmers, Herdsmen In Zamfara To Maintain Peace
By Ahmad Ibrahim, Gusau
The Emir of Tsafe, in Tsafe local government area Of Zamfara state, Yan Doto Alhaji Muhammad Bawa has advised farmers and herdsmen to continue respecting the peace initiative introduced by the state government and live peacefully with one another in the state. The Emir made this known to Newsmen in Gusau the state capital over the weekend said nothing can be achieved without peace and unity among communities in the state. Yan Doton Tsafe also advised his districts head’s in the emirate to always be dedicated to their duties for the progress of the emirate and state at large. The Emir of Tsafe urged security agencies to maximise efforts in addressing security challenges in the state. The monarch said there was an urgent need for security agencies to review security measures to bring lasting peace and stability in to the state. He appealed to the state government to resettle people who were displaced from their towns and villages due to insecurity.The Emir said many people suffered as result of insecurity. ”We want government to assist victims of insecurity so as to return to their original communities, he said. Muhammad Bawa also called on people to assist security agencies with intelligence reports and always expose criminal elements around them. He also commended the leadership of Governor Dr Bello Muhammad (Matawallen Maradun) for his efforts at stemming insecurity in the state.
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Prolonged COVID-19 pandemic may affect food harvest, says farmer
A Farmer, Mr Chuba Chukwuka, says prolonged COVID-19 pandemic in the country may affect food harvest negatively.
Chukwuka, a greenhouse farmer, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday that the pandemic had restricted local farmers’ access to farming inputs and materials, hence making their jobs more tedious.
“Even though we can access our farms, we still do not have access to a lot of farming inputs. Those selling farming inputs and machinery have not been allowed to open shop.
“We struggle to get a lot of the inputs we need in farming. That is one of the challenges we face farming at this period.
“Presently a lot of farmers are also finding it hard to procure seeds for the planting season, so they cannot replant at this time.
“Then, for those that still get a means to buy seeds for planting; they buy them at very exorbitant prices. If farmers are unable to plant at some time it is going to affect food supply in the country,’’ Chukwuka said.
He decried the inability of farmers to get seeds to buy this planting season, saying that by the time the rains would be over, there might be food security issues.
Chukwuka said that this would, in turn, also reflect in food prices, as the cost of food items might likely go up because the farmers would want to break even.
He added that the delay in rainfall this year might also negatively impact on agro-produce harvest as farmers did not have an early start in planting season.
“The fact that the rains came late this year is also a major factor we should look out for when it comes to agro-produce harvests this year.
“Even though some farmers have already set in place irrigation systems on their farms, a lot of Nigerian farmers depend on rainfall agriculture. So, that definitely will affect food production this year.
“Then coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, if it does not end soon, it will most definitely affect food production this year.
“The COVID-19 pandemic affects both greenhouse farming system as well as the traditional farming systems because the only difference between both systems is irrigation and rainfall.
“The effect of the pandemic cuts across all sectors of agriculture in the country and all the relevant value chains,” Chukwuka said.
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Enugu govt. to train over 120 farmers on pre-season planting—Official
The Enugu State Government says it has concluded plans to train over 120 farmers on pre-season planting of different crops in the state.
The Acting Director of Technical Services, Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Benjamin Onuze, made this known in an interview with our correspondents on Thursday in Enugu.
Onuze said that the pre-season training involved on the planting of cassava, tomatoes, cucumbers, orange flesh sweet potato production, yam, maize among others.
According to him, the training organised by the state agricultural ministry is to make sure that farmers are equipped with the knowledge on how to go about cultivation of any king of food crops in their farmlands.
“We expect that after the training, the farmers will go back and train other farmers, who may be interested in acquiring the knowledge of pre-season planting.
‘‘Farmers for the training will be drawn from the six agricultural zone of the state and others who may want to join in the training.
‘’The ministry is organising this training for the purpose of mass production of food for the citizens and as well as exportation to other places,’’ he said.