A multi-million-naira maize farm for members of the Maize Growers Processing Marketer Association of Nigeria (MAGPAMAN) have been destroyed by herdsmen in Ekiti state.
This is coming days after the state Governor Kayode Fayemi assured herdsmen in neighbouring Ondo State that Ondo is their home.
At the peacemaking parley featuring the governors of Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Oyo, Kebbi, and Jigawa states on Monday with the national leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association at the International Culture and Events Centre in Akure, Ondo State capital, Dr. Fayemi was quoted to have said: “This is your home. You’ve lived here, married and done business with us. Nobody is going anywhere. The statement by the Ondo State Government had no eviction reference.”
The farm covering about 235 hectares of land is at the state forest reserve in Aduloju farm stead located along Ado-Ijan road in Ado local government area of the state.
Speaking with newsmen yesterday, in Ado-Ekiti, the state secretary of the association, Mr Tope Emmanuel said the herders had been terrorising the farmers in the last one week leading to the destruction of the maize farm.
He said the pastorals stormed the farm at night with dangerous weapons to feed their cows and, “all efforts to stop them have been rebuffed.”
He said that members obtained about N6.6m loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the anchor borrowers’ programme in September to plant the maize, adding that the 160 members had been left with nothing to cultivate.
When contacted, the Ekiti Amotekun corps commander, Brig-Gen Joe Komolafe (retd) confirmed the incident, adding, “We are handling the situation.”
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