By Joshua Yousouph

Following the devastation of farmlands in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State by suspected armed Fulani herdsmen, farmers in the area have recorded poor harvest and sharp decline in revenue from their farm produce.

The indigenes lamented that the on-going 2017 harvest season is the worst in the past years as herdsmen have been occupying their farm lands with the attendant destruction of their crops, now running into millions of Naira.

Herdsmen with their cattle

Ndosimili Development Union, NDU, a socio-cultural group in Ndokwa East, in a statement by Mr Francis Adone and Pual Orie, President and Secretary respectively, noted that they had to set up a committee to investigate the value of produce and property lost to the series of attacks.

According to the duo, the Committee’s report stated that, “The unhindered destruction of our farmlands in the council has led to unprecedented low harvest since the past decade, as the cattle of Fulani herdsmen have been ravaging our plants.”

They expressed sadness that the people of Ndokwa East who are mainly peasant farmers will perish in penury if the state of insecurity prevailing in the state continues.

The Committee in its report at a stakeholders’ meeting of Ndokwa  East people in Lagos, pointed out that many farmers could not farm this year because they were afraid of being murdered or maimed by the Fulani Herdsmen, who have not ceased to execute their murderous activities in Delta State forests.

“There is a colossal loss of revenue in this year’s harvest, the people will further slide into poverty.

“Furthermore, indigene explained that some farmers lamented that they could only produce 300, 500, 600 tubers of yams as against 5,000 to 7,000 tubers which they have been producing in previous years.

“Other farmers including women also complained that they could not convey their products to the markets of Eastern states of Onitsha, Port Harcourt and even Lagos.

“Women who cultivated melon, pepper, garden eggs also lamented that they used to harvest 10 to 15 bags but this year, they produced only three to five bags, which they said cannot fetch good revenue.

“Delegates from the just concluded stakeholders meeting convened to deliberate on problems afflicting the people of Ndosimili resolved to appeal to both the Delta State Government and federal authorities to provide adequate security in Delta State forests, where farmers depend heavily for their livelihood.”

Speaking further, the NDU enjoined the state government to ensure police stations are established at strategic points of the Local council to check the excesses of the herdsmen and other criminals. They also emphasized the deployment of marine police to be on regular patrol of the rivers.

The communities visited so far mostly located on the West Bank of River Niger and Ase Creek include: Ase, Onya, Umoru, Abala Uno, Abala Oshimili, Utchi clan, Ossissa, Onuaboh, Inyi.