Farmers Protest Over Destruction Of Farmland, Crops By Herdsmen  In Kogi.

Idris Ahmed, Lokoja.

Hundreds of farmers from Egbe, in Yagba west local government area of Kogi state on Monday took to the streets protesting incessant destruction of farmlands and crops worth  millions of Naira by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

The protesting farmers called on the State government to intervene immediately to avoid breakdown of law and order in the area, as they can no longer watch herdsmen wantonly destroy farmland and crops they toiled for one year to produce

The spokes man of the farmers, Mr Wale Oti, who briefed newsmen on the incident, lamented that the way and manner in which the farms and crops waiting to be harvested which have been destroyed are very pathetic as damage done is  unquantifiable.

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 destruction of their farmlands for years, but situation became worst 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 mobilize themselves peacefully and went to the palace of Elegbe.

“Arrest was made yesterday of 2 cows who were caught on a farm  so farmers could not go to the police station to avoid harassment

“While the protest was going on 2 Fulani herdsmen were found with gun, they were disarmed and taken to police station,” he stated.