…Frightened by killer Fulani herdsmen
From Idu Jude, Abuja
Abuja farmers are in dire straight. They are being forced to abandon their farms for fear of being attacked by Fulani herdsmen. The frequent attacks, they claimed ended in bloodshed and loss of lives.
The herders/farmers conflict in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has lingered since 2020 without concrete solution, after many administrations. The conflicts impacted negatively on food security, leading to high inflation.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1718806029429-0’); });
Mrs. Grace Ukaeje, a commercial vegetable grower and resident in Jikwoyi Phase 11, Abuja, was forced to channel her resources into another business instead of losing her life while contending with herders in the bush. She spoke with Daily Sun:
“We, the veritable growers association, have resigned not to sacrifice our blood just to make money. Some of us have decided to diversify. I think that is the right thing to do because life first. No life no wealth. If I die, my suffering would have amounted to nothing. I think there can always be something else.
“Farmers are no longer serious about farming in the FCT. They wish to save their lives first. They tarry a little bit to know what the government of FCT is doing about the life-threatening situation. I know you have heard of the recent death of a farmer, Mr. Danjuma Simon, who was found dead on his farm a few days ago.
“Danjuma was before his demise, a member of the National Commercial Yam and Cassava Growers Association, and he was doing well. His widow is still a member of the Commercial Vegetable Growers Association.
“We keep losing members to these heartless people who claim their own business means a lot to them while our own are destroyed to grow theirs. What an irony of life. The worst part of it is that they do it with impunity and damn the consequences.”
Mr. Monday Ajiya, an indigene of FCT, said: “Nigeria is a lawless nation. It is a place where the law, is made for the poorest of the poor. The law was not made for the rich among those who own these herds of cattle. That is why they do things without apologies and compensation.
“These castles are owned by top Nigerians in and out government. The hersers’ operation defiles every law because no one calls them to order. Each time these herders move into people’s farms and eat up their crops with no apology, and a slight confrontation suddenly ends one’s life.”
Hassan Bako lost two brothers to the herders while trying to protect their crops: “This is the only thing my parents taught us how to do and survive. As an indigene, I won’t abandon my ancestral homeland to the visitors. I will continue to farm but with caution until a lasting solution is found.”
Tanko Munir, a lawyer, said: “Nigeria has 415 grazing reserves in 21 states of the federation. The FCT has land area of 4.4 million hectares. Out of these, 141 (34 per cent) are grazing areas. About 2.9 million hectares of land was gazetted, while 274 (66 per cent) of grazing areas, about 1.2 million hectares were not gazetted.
“The importance of these is that about 66 per cent of grazing areas are at risk of encroachment by individual, cooperative entities. Farming communities, as such may further precipitate crises between farming clusters and pastoralists.
“Some states in the South with existing grazing reserves have banned open grazing, with no commensurate commitment to improving husbandry facilities within grazing reserves in their respective states to serve as an impetus for the pastoralists to graze within these grazing areas.”
Alhaji Hamza Dodo, a member of Myeti Allah, said: “It is worthy of note that there is no federal legislation that supports open grazing in Nigeria. Consequently, state governments should constitute pastoralists into cooperative clusters where they can easily access funding from the Bank of Agriculture or Nigeria’s Incentive-based Risk-Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) an arm of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“These entities may provide the necessary funding towards improving the quality of services, facilities within the grazing reserves. Such may reduce the risk of encroachment of pastoralists on agricultural farmlands in search of lush pastures. Livestock farming is a business and should be treated as such.”
Theophilus Dobi, an indigene of FCT, said land competition seems to be the reason for the clash: “Herdsmen in the FCT need grazing land for their livestock, farmers residents in the FCT cultivate the same land for commercial purposes. This competition for resources, particularly in areas with limited land, often leads to conflict and needs to be addressed.
“Part of the problems also includes but not limited to change, including drought and desertification. It has exacerbated the scarcity of grazing land and water, pushing herders to seek resources in areas traditionally used by farmers”
Matins Orji, former Director, Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat, FCTA, said: “The conflict disrupts agricultural production, leading to food scarcity and increased prices. It also diverts farmland and resources away from farming, further impacting food security.
“The conflicts have resulted in displacement, loss of life and destruction of property, impacting both herders and farmers. It is pertinent to state that the conflict’s effects on food production and distribution contribute to food inflation and insecurity in the FCT.
“Nyesom Wike’s administration needs to address the root causes of the conflict including land management, resource allocation, and promoting peaceful coexistence.
“Government should, as a matter of urgency, encourage modern ranching practices, where livestock are raised in controlled environments, to help reduce competition with farmers and improve productivity not only in the FCT but in the country.
“The recent meeting between the FCTA administration and the Myeti Allah cattle breeders may reduce farmers’ herders’ clash with promises that grazing at unauthorized destinations may no longer be tolerated, going forward”
The post FCT farmers abandon farms appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.
