Paul Ogunmola, project coordinator, FADAMA III Additional Financing, Kogi state chapter has disclosed that the project has lost two farmers to herdsmen attacks. Ogunmola made this known recently while listing out the challenges Kogi State FADAMA has been facing, adding that the state government has recently come to their rescue.
“By the grace of God there have been quite a several challenges and fortunately the government is coming to our rescue. We have lost two farmers as a result of an alleged attack by the Fulani herdsmen. In fact, there was a farmer who went with his family early in the morning to the farm and mysteriously a mob came from nowhere and catch them and the wife had to run back home leaving the corpse in the farm,” he said.
Meanwhile recently to maintain a peaceful co-existence between the herdsmen and the people of Kogi State, Governor Yahaya Bello has threatened to dethrone any traditional rulers in the state whose domain was used as the theatre of war between the host communities and Fulani herdsmen. Bello disclosed that the state wants to tap from Fulanis economy while calling on the Fulanis to benefit from the state’s economy, adding that they are free to do their lawful businesses in Kogi State.
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The Kogi state government also warned the local government administrators in the 21 Local government areas that it would not hesitate to sack them if their local council was involved in any unnecessary feud between the Fulanis host communities. The governor equally explained that the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended to guarantee the free association and movement, stressing that the stakeholders meeting was aimed at finding a lasting solution to the perennial farmers and herdsmen in Kogi State and Nigeria in general.
Bello, therefore, urged them to come to the state in their large numbers, saying Nigeria belong to all including herdsmen and those who want coming and live in Kogi State, adding that the state government will not create any grazing zones as long as the land is available in abundance in the state. Speaking earlier, Suleiman Mohammed, state secretary of Maiyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, disclosed that their members are facing security challenges in the Eastern parts of the state, saying many of their members have been attacked, killed and several cows have killed.
Mohammed also stated that in Omala local government area of the state no fewer than 52 cows have killed while 11 cattle herdsmen were killed whose corpses could be found up till date. He also alleged that apart from maltreatment from their Host communities, the security personnel are fond of extorting money from their members before they cross bridges.
Victoria Nnakiaike, Kogi
