By Dayo Johnson, Akure

COCOA farmers in Elebisere community near Ofosu in Idanre Local government area of Ondo State watched helplessly as bulldozers mauled down their Cocoa farmland on which they had toiled for over 80years. Tears flowed freely as their source of livelihood was destroyed by agents of a quarry company who stormed the community with armed men ostensibly to intimidate them to submission.

Consequently, the farmers  have cried out to relevant authorities to help halt the criminality going on in their Community and bring to book those responsible for the willful destruction of the economic trees.

In order not to take laws into their hands, the community has approached the Afe Babalola Chambers to seek for Justice and deliverance from oppression by some few personalities “under the guise of carrying out quarry activities therein”

The farmer through their Counsel, Idowu Lanre Alabi from the   Afe Babalola Chambers have cried out over massive destruction of their farmland by armed security officers acting on the instruction of E. B & H, a quarry company operating in the community.

Quarrycompany

They have petitioned the inspector General of Police IG, the state governor Dr Olusegun Mimiko, the traditional ruler of Idanre Oba Fredrick Aroloye , the Assistant Inspector General of Police AIG, the Divisional Police Officer, Ofosu police Station, Ofosu of an impending crisis over willful destruction of the source of livelihood .

The   petition alleged that bulldozers were brought by the armed security operatives to destroy hectares of their Cocoa farmland without prior notice. They have therefore called for the stoppage of the “criminality going on presently at Elebisere village, near Ofosu, effect the arrest and prosecution of all the personalities responsible for the massive destruction of our client cocoa farmland.

They said that the personalities are hiding under the guise of carrying out quarry activities. According to the petition, strange men whose identities could not be ascertained were first noticed in may last year when they started marking some trees and rocks located within the farmland with white paints “They also cut down a sizeable number of cocoa trees. Our client felt aggrieved and promptly challenged them

The matter was later taken to the Olu of Ofosu Henry Bankole who denied knowledge or approval of the activities of the strange men. They alleged further that another six strange faces showed up the following week but fled before they could be challenged Another set of strange faces according to the petition showed up in the community with fully armed security and they descended on the farmland” without any prior notice or resort to the owners of the farmland destroying several hectares.

Trailer loadsof iron rods

The petition added that they returned the following day in company of a white man who representing the quarry company known as EB & H company. “Sometimes in March 2015, the representatives of the company came with trailer loads of iron rods which they deposited on our clients farmlands. On April 8, they company came with bulldozers and commenced massive destruction of cocoa trees belonging to our client. The estimate runs to several millions of naira.

The petition said that a meeting involving the Olu of Elebisere, the Lisa of Ofosu, Bale of Ofosu and representatives of the affected farmers was inconclusive following a charged atmosphere when the farmers were instructed by one Olufisayo Olatunji not to go to their farmland anymore or they might be shot.

Four officials of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Power were invited by the farmers to “ appraise the brazen activities of the company and they reportedly expressed their reservations on seeing the massive destruction and promised to write a report on their findings. “Strange enough up till the time of writing this correspondence, nothing   has been heard from neither the officials nor the appropriate Ministry.

They alleged that the willful destructive operation at the Cocoa farmlands of their clients by agents of the company resumed on April 13 this time with more vigour and desperation. “Two bulldozers were brought in and in a twinkle of an eye, countless number of cocoa trees were uprooted and destroyed. “ On April 14, 2015 two fully armed Police Officers, five forest guards as well as the forest officers. In charge of the area stormed our clients farmlands and effected the arrest of seven of our clients. They were handcuffed like criminals and whisked to Ofosu Police station.

They gave names of farmers arrested to include femi Ogunniyi, Pastor Simon, Pastor Yele, Samuel Fadipe, Pastor Alabi, Baale Elebisere and Ahmed Kolawole. The arrested farmers were later released after being detained till late that night. According to them two other companies interdrill Quarry company and Levant Quarry company have joined in the destruction of their farmland.

Destructionof farmlands

The farmers said the activities of the company “ represent the most sordid, wicked and callous exhibition of impunity. “As they say, he who deprived one of his means of livelihood clearly deprived him of his life. The way things are going at Elebisere Village, If not quickly halted, may lead to a serious breach of the peace of the area with its attendant serious consequences.

“We state emphatically that up till the time of writing this petition, not a single kobo has been paid to our clients by anyone neither have they been approached by anyone before and after the destruction of their Cocoa farmland s which destruction is still ongoing. “Simply put, the situation at hand represents the worst form of man inhumanity to man, hence the urgent need for your prompt and decisive intervention before it gets out of hand.

“It is not out of place to state that a large Chunk of cocoa produced by Ondo state   through Idanre axis comes from Elebisere Village. But speaking with South West Voice, the Director of E. B. & H granite Companies alleged to have destroyed the cocoa farmlands, Engineer Timothy Oluwafemi said that compensation have been paid to the owners of the farmlands.

Engineer Oluwafemi pointed out that the company would not have invaded the community if it has not gotten an approval of the state government. “ We have paid the state government compensation after they valued the economic trees and also the owners of the farmlands and in addition we have promised them employment opportunities.

“ We are not the only company operating there, why are they attacking us. There are other Chinese companies there why are they not approaching them too for compensation. “Our company has paid them N3.5million as compensation. We have shown them enough kindness and human face. We are ready to carry them along let them reciprocate

Also contacted, the Natural Resources Commissioner Tunde Atere   told South West Voice that the farmers are illegal encroachers in government forest reserves . Atere said that the numbers of years they have been allowed to occupy the reserve illegally was not an excuse. According to him the granite companies operating in the Community have a license from the Federal Ministry of Mines and a go ahead order was given by the state government.

He confirmed that compensation has been paid to the farmers on the economic trees that were destroyed by the E. B & H granite company. The Commissioner said that the farmers have no justification to disallow the companies from operating in the community which is part of government forest reserve.

Affectedfarmers

But one of the affected farmers Fatai Akinloye who spoke with South West Voice   said they have not been paid any compensation by any of the company. But instead the companies have destroyed their source of living. Akinloye said maybe the company paid the said compensation to the wrong people   in the Community.

He also said that past administration in the state collected a huge amount of money from the farmers as levies/ rates   in the 90s after it was discovered that they have been farming in the reserve for such a number of years. The farmer wondered why the present government decided to send them to the unemployment market by taking side with the companies.

South West Voice further learnt that an alleged supremacy tussle between a traditional ruler, a Baale, an Olu and a Lisa   in the area may have deprived the farmers their own share of the compensation.