Plateau: After killings, herdsmen harvest ripe crops, feed others to cattle
Having killed over 200 people and displaced nearly 150,000 others from 11 villages in Northern Plateau recently, suspected herdsmen have allegedly fed grown crops spread across 1sq.kms to their cattle in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the State.
For those already ripe on the farms, “wives of the herders harvest them for themselves,” one of the affected farmers in Dorowa Babuje village said.
Over 20 farms according to him were affected with at least 10 containing ripe Irish potatoes.
None of the farms was accessible as the herders armed with guns always shot at any farmer in sight, he said.
Dozens of farmers who till date cannot return to their homes for fear of being attacked, earlier this week mobilized security forces to give them cover to enable them harvest their ripe crops and care for those still growing in the farms, our correspondent can report.
On getting to the farms however, most of them were heartbroken by what they saw.
An estimated N50m worth of crops have been lost due to the activities of the herders.
The Member representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency in the Nigerian House of Reps, Hon. Istifanus Gyang confirmed the incident to MKB but sought to research and report back with the details.
House of Assembly member representing Barkin Ladi constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Peter Gyendeng however said the destructions have been on long before the recent killing of over 200.
He however disclosed that security operatives have been responsive to the security needs of communities, preventing even greater damages.
When contacted, the Plateau State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tyopev Terna requested to make findings and report back.
Plateau State has suffered series of attacks mainly on farming communities, killing and displacing many of the farmers.
Amnesty International recently raised concern over impending food insecurity in Nigeria owing to the attacks.
The Nigerian government has continually promised to identify and punish the perpetrators of the attacks.
So far, 11 people have been arrested and are undergoing investigations at the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Observers however believe that more might still be out in the villages posing more threats to hitherto unharmed communities.
