A Traditional Ruler in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, Mene Godwin Apere, has raised the alarm over the invasion of farm lands in his community by cattle rearers and their herders causing damages to crops of local farmers.
Mene Apere who addressed journalists in his home town Kaani, decried the activities of the herdsmen in the area which he described as “a strange phenomenon” to the people of Kaani and Ogoni in general.
He said, “my people are predominantly farmers and earn their daily living through farming but recently, their major occupation is undergoing serious threats by herdsmen who let loose their cattle to destroy the crops of our farmers, this is totally strange and unacceptable and we cannot concede our means of livelihood to the strange herdsmen”.
The monarch, who is the Mene Bua Kàani, said he had made several complaints to security operatives in the area, but the issue had not been given due attention.
He cautioned against the activities of some elements who allegedly collected money from the herdsmen to allow them access to farms and pointed out that such actions amounted to economic sabotage to the local communities.
He called for proper investigation of the matter by the government and stoppage of farm lands invasion by herdsmen to allow the farmers to continue with their farming activities.
