Some aggrieved commercial farmers in Igangan community
have asked the state government and the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mr Nwachukwu Enwonwu, to address the incessant losses incurred by their members due to the incessant invasion of their farms by some cattle herders in the area in order not to discourage farming in the state.
The save our souls was sent by the affected commercial farmers as some cattle, belonging to herders whose identity are yet to be known, reportedly plundered the over 10acres of maize plantation of one of their members between last Saturday and Sunday.
It was learnt that upon the complaints by farmers, the Police in Igangan, alongside the Seriki Fulani of Igangan, Alhaji Kadir Saliu, trailed the herders to the forest to arrest them. The team reportedly succeeded in getting the cows but the herders were nowhere to be found.
Oyo Reporters gathered that it was agreed by the farmers and the police that the 88 cows should be kept at the Seriki Fulani’s courtyard pending when the cow owners would be apprehended.
The herders were said to have moved their cows into the affected maize plantation on Saturday evening after those working on the farm had left. The animals allegedly destroyed the plantation between Saturday evening and Sunday morning.
Mr Olufemi Abioye, President, Igangan Agro Park Investors Association, said the herders fled the farm when they discovered that the police were after them.
Abioye said, “This is not a new development; it is a loss too many. Well over 10 hectares of maize plantation, worth millions of naira, was destroyed in less than one day by 88 cows brought in by some Bororo cattle herders.
It did not start just today; the agro park farmers in Oyo State continue to suffer losses as a result of the lawlessness by the herders who are bent on feeding their animals with our own plants and crops.
“In some instances, the police would get them arrested. In June last year they came at night and their cattle destroyed several hectares of water melon. They always threaten to attack us with militia group from Mali. Some of them don’t care when you report them to the police.
“When we approached the Seriki Fulani, he said he had no control over those who are violent because they could be very dangerous. There are 300 hectares of grassland but the herders would leave the grassland and feed their cattle with our crops. Between last December and January, we lost over N2.4million worth of crops.
When they were arrested and brought to Iyaganku, they paid just N150,000. This is why they are unrepentant and threaten to do even worse things.”
The Seriki Fulani said the herders who plundered the maize farm with the 88 cows had shown up.
According to the him, the men would meet the owners of the farm to discuss settlement. Saliu said, “I am in Ilorin, Kwara State as we speak. The 88 cows that were suspected to have destroyed the farm were kept in my custody. My children told me that the owners of the cows had shown up.
“The hope is that the cows would be released to them and they would meet the farmers tomorrow (Wednesday) to discuss about the settlement. You know it is not easy for me to keep 88 cows at my place for long.”
However, Abioye said rather than release the cows to the herders pending when a meeting would hold on settlement, “the cows should be kept with the state Agro Ranger Patrol Team in order not to scuttle the fair process of settlement to the affected farmers.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Oyo State Command, Olugbenga Fadeyi, said, “The Divisional Police Officer in Igangan confirmed the incident saying that the plantation in question belongs to the state government and the commercial farmers are cultivating the land on lease agreement.
“The owners of the cows have yet to show up. Steps are being taken to identify the owners. Efforts are also ongoing to arrive at an amicable settlement as the police would not shark in its responsibilities.”
