…due to threats by bandits.
by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Famers in Benue State, particularly Benue Zone 3, have introduced what they term as, “all times domestic farming system,” for fear of attacks and killings, following alleged invasion of their farmlands by bandits suspected to be foreign Fulani herdsmen.
A local from Ogege-Ipoya, in Edumoga-Ehaje, Okpokwu LGA of the state, who confirmed this to our correspondent, said they were also complying with the authority’s directive – that, all omnivorous domestic animals, especially goats, sheep, cows and others, be caged or taken away from home, for domestic farming to thrive.
He said sequel to the directive, all domestic animals have been evacuated from home, for domestic farming to thrive in fullness, and to reduce incidents of attacks by the suspected terrorist Fulani herdsmen.
He, however, noted that “Even although, there are defaulters against the directive in some towns and communities, many have complied by housing their goats and other omnivorous animals, while some others moved their own to relatives, in other villages that are (for now) not having incidents of bandits attacks.
The Ipoya-Ogege-born medical personnel expressed surprise that same authority at national level could not apply wisdom and imbibe the culture of ranching to stop free-flow of open grazing of cattle currently in practice to bring lasting peace.
According to him, “In a layman’s understanding, the persistent banditry escalation is attributed to government’s unwillingness to end the problem,” lamenting the eminent dangers of implications of limiting farmers to ‘domestic’ system when they have vast land for larger system of farming.