Rivers farmers protest against herdsmen’s invasion

Clashes to end soon, says Ortom

Farmers in Rivers State have staged a peaceful protest over invasion on their farmlands by suspected herdsmen.

The over 200 farmers marched to the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Council headquarters to register their complaints on the destruction of their farm crops by herdsmen.

The farmers insisted the herdsmen be removed from their communities, noting that they were attacked in their farms daily with the invaders harvesting crops, which she said had brought hunger.
In Benue State, Governor Samuel Ortom has assured that the recurring clashes between farmers and herdsmen would end as soon as the House of Assembly outlaws grazing.

Ortom gave this indication while receiving Ityuluv/Injoov people in Kwande Local Government Council, adding that in the state there is no land for grazing because 80 percent of the citizens are farmers.

The governor said Benue people are advocating for ranching of cattle, but cautioned the youths against killing of cows and herdsmen.

He said the people have adopted the policy of live and let live and asked herdsmen to reciprocate the kind gesture by avoiding trespass on farms.

Governor Ortom advised that problems between herdsmen and farmers should be reported to security agencies and emphasized that fighting would not help anybody.