Farmers raise alarm over influx of cattle into Ogun

Farmers, under the aegis of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAM) Ogun State chapter, have raised an alarm over what they regarded as the high influx of cattle herdsmen into Ogun State.   As they argued, the influx had caused the destruction of about 500 acres of farmland by cattle.  AFAM’s position, contained in a […]

Farmers, under the aegis of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAM) Ogun State chapter, have raised an alarm over what they regarded as the high influx of cattle herdsmen into Ogun State. 

 As they argued, the influx had caused the destruction of about 500 acres of farmland by cattle.

 AFAM’s position, contained in a letter exclusively made available to EKO TRUST yesterday, stated that the call had become necessary “in view of the damage already done on farms by the herdsmen and their cattle, as they allegedly failed to obey earlier agreements on the matter.”

 The letter noted: “A high influx of cattle into the state has been noticed from Kwara State, Oyo State to Oba, Obada Oko, Itori, Ewekoro through Igboora road and from Imeko Afon to Ijaka Isale, Aiyetoro Owode Ketu to Egua and from Igangun to Dangote in Ibese, Igbogila, Iro, Kobape.

 “This sudden influx of cattle herdsmen will cause serious conflict with crop farmers, since crop farmers are yet to harvest their crops from the farm, and the situation might lead to serious fight between the two.”

 Leaders of both AFAM and the Meyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association had met in September, with both parties agreeing, among others, on moves to prevent further destruction in their desire for a peaceful co-existence.

  They solicited the support of the government to join hands with them to stop the herdsmen’ invasion and ensure effective implementation of what both parties agreed upon.

 The Ogun State chairman of AFAM, Chief Olusegun Dasaolu, however, told our correspondent that, “about two months after signing the agreement, it has been sour report.” 

 The agreement, he said, has not been satisfactorily implemented, a development he said has led to the destruction of about 500 acres of farms in the last two months. 

 AFAM then decided to bring the national body of the Meyetti Allah into the development. At the meeting with the National President of the Meyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Alhaji Mohammed Kiruwa Zuru last week, Zuru warned members not to engage in any activities that would be inimical to the peace and harmony between them and local farmers in Ogun state, “as nobody is above the law.”

 He warned the cattle breeders in the state to be mindful of the accommodating nature of the local farmers and as such, “any agreement reached must be complied with.”

 Resolutions reached at the meeting included the registration of cattle breeders and the number of their cattle coming into the state, abolishment of night grazing, compensation for farms destruction or cattle killed, prohibition of under-aged (18 years and below) from herding cattle and eschewing criminal activities like robbery and rape.