Farmers fear food shortage as herders’ cows destroy crops; call for urgent action from leaders.
Farmers in the Niger Delta are pleading with President Bola Tinubu and regional governors to prevent herders from letting their cows ruin farmlands. They warn that if this continues, it could lead to food shortages and unnecessary conflicts.
Farmers in the Niger Delta are crying out to President Bola Tinubu and the governors of oil-producing states to stop herders from entering their farms and destroying crops. They say if this problem isn’t fixed, it could cause food shortages and fights.
The farmers are upset that herders let their cows eat and damage the crops they’ve worked hard to grow. With the planting season about to start, they’re asking President Tinubu and all South-South governors to act quickly.
These farmers don’t support open grazing and disagree with the Miyetti Allah group, which says herders can’t afford to set up ranches.
A law is being discussed in the National Assembly to create a National Animal Husbandry and Ranches Commission. This commission would manage ranches across Nigeria.
But the Miyetti Allah group’s National Secretary, Saleh Alhassan, said last year that they would oppose the law. He said, “Laws should bring love, peace, and development. This law won’t work. You can’t just suddenly destroy our way of life with a new rule. They want to cause problems and push us herders into rebellion, but they will fail.”
The Northern Elders Forum has asked the federal government to create plans to move from open grazing to ranching, protect herders’ interests, and address security issues. Their spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, said, “We know it’s important to solve the problems caused by open grazing and find better ways to manage livestock. But we’re also aware of concerns that the proposed law might hurt the livelihoods of herders in the region.”
In Edo State, the Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Comrade Jay Usiegbu, explained how herders chased out of the South-West by the Amotekun security group have moved into the South-South, causing problems for farmers there.
He said, “It’s bad for us because in the western part of the country, Amotekun is driving herders and criminals out of the forests. As they leave, they come to other areas. For example, in Edo State, farmers in the Sobe and Owan areas couldn’t even reach their farms during harvest. The government should provide land for ranching, and herders should keep their cows there and pay a fee. Anyone found outside these areas should be seen as trespassing and dealt with accordingly.”
The farmers are urging leaders to take immediate action to protect their livelihoods and ensure peace in the region.
