Herdsmen Allegedly Destroy Crops Worth ₦1 Billion In Communities In Plateau

The alleged damage of farmlands by suspected Fulani herders has caused tension in the Kwi and Jol communities in Plateau State’s Riyom Local Government Area.

According to the DAILY POST, the incident occurred late Sunday night, leaving some farmers enraged and despondent as they assess their losses.

Gyang Moses, a Jol village resident whose maize plot was damaged, sobbed uncontrollably as he saw his crops being torn down by the herders.

Moses said, “This is heartless, how can people use cutlass to cut down maize that will feed the entire nation?

“I can’t comprehend the idea behind this. Our people need help, government must be swift in taking action to assist these poor communities to avert impending famine”, he decried.

Timothy Dantong, who represents the Riyom Constituency in the State House of Assembly, reacted to the tragic incident by urging the government to apprehend those responsible.

Dantong bemoaned the fact that Governor Simon Lalong’s anti-land grabbing ordinance has yet to take full effect, and that enforcement of the law has remained a fantasy.

He said “Two days back, Fulani militia invaded my constituency and destroyed farmlands with crops, this has been the reason why we have had crises in the past.

“The agenda of the militia is to take over lands that belong to the natives and that is our major concern and we appreciate the State Government for coming up with a bill that seeks to prevent land grabbing in the state and unless we have an enforcement agency that will enforce these laws, our efforts as Government is useless”, he explained.

“Right now the people in the grassroots have not felt the impact of that law. We have over 60 villages that have been taken over forcefully and the perpetrators are having a filled day, something urgent needs to be done”, he lamented.

The Lawmaker appealed to the State Government to come to the aid of the communities as the act is capable of throwing the villagers into severe famine.

“As we speak, the cost of the destruction cannot be ascertained because the data is being collated; but I can tell you it’s worth a billion”, he maintained.