Growth Enhancement Scheme Agro-dealers Association of Nigeria, GESAAN, has raised alarm over looming food scarcity in the country following the recent killings of famrers by suspected herdsmen in Benue and Taraba states.
Kabiru Umar, National Chairman of GESAAN, who expressed the concern weekend, called on the federal government to quickly intervene on the matter to cushion the effects on food production and prices in the market in affected areas.
Umar said: “The clash between the herdsmen and farmers in Benue and Taraba states will definitely affect food production in that part of the country.
”The problem of this country is we don’t have statistics or data base. In other advanced countries, one can have data on the cultivation and output of produce per local government but not in our country.
“Prices of commodities in the market will be negatively affected because the shorter the supply the higher the price, which we don’t want in the country.
“The way out is for the federal government to quickly come up with intervention programmes. Generally, the government has food reserves they should bring in outputs so that it will cushion the effects on the affected areas,” he said.
Meanwhile, Benue State indigenes in the South East zone weekend, protested the New Year massacre of their people by Fulani herdsmen.
They immediately asked President Muhammedu Buhari to declare herdsmen terrorists and arrest leaders of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, MACBAN, for unrepentantly threatening more bloodshed in Benue State.
The protesters threatened that if President Buhari failed to meet their demand, they would be forced to defend themselves.
The group, under the umbrella of the Tiv, Idoma and Igede forums, made their position known in Enugu during a protest rally against continuous killing in Benue by herdsmen.
In a position paper signed by Dr. David Wayas, President of Tiv community and the chief convener and others, the protesters declared total support for the anti-grazing law of Benue State government.
They said: “We call on Governor Samuel Ortom to ensure total compliance and we reject the establishment of cattle colonies in our state. We call on President Buhari to declare the herdsmen as terrorists.
“We also call on the President to order immediate arrest and prosecution of Bosso and other leaders of Miyetti Allah who have consistently threatened more bloodshed in Benue State.
“We call on federal government to order the enforcement of the anti-grazing law and in the event of failure of compliance to our submission as a people, we would have no choice but to stand up and defend ourselves.”
President of Tiv community and the chief convener, Dr. David Wayas, said the protest was to register their condolences and observe a brief moment of solitude to those who lost their lives in the attack.
“But most importantly, we are here to communicate our position before the world, against the continuous killings and merciless massacre of innocent, harmless, defenceless and very patriotic people of our dear Benue State, who have become the booty in the hand of nomadic terrorist herdsman.
“It is disheartening to note, indeed, that the lives of those who lost their lives by herdsmen attacks on our land of course are yet to be quantified. But for the sake of those of us still alive, we are here to say ‘enough is enough’.
“We can no longer keep quiet, we can no longer be silent, and we will continue to speak until those behind this evil carnage is brought to justice. We fought for the unification of this country.
”Our ancestral fathers fought to unite Nigeria. Benue State fought to bring about what is today Nigeria. But today, we are being slaughtered by those who call us their brothers. Today, we are denied our rights of existence.
“Today, we have become refugees in our own country. And yet we have a government, which promised to protect our lives and our properties. How long shall we allow this evil to continue to prosper for saying nothing!
Also, Solomon Dalung, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, condemned state governors for abdicating responsibility in providing security for the people.
Dalung, who spoke while unveiling the refurbished gym at the National Stadium in Lagos, tasked governors to use their security votes to secure the lives and property of their people, instead of relying wholly on the federal government to do it for the.
He said: “When it comes to controlling the security apparatus of states, the governors would say, ‘we are the chief security officers of our states’. Now they are crying to the federal government to help curb the herdsmen menace. For everything, people cry to the federal government. Very soon, they will ask the federal government to sponsor their weddings.”
He said governors should stop blackmailing the federal government on issues they were supposed to handle, claiming that responsibilities for the various tiers of government were clearly spelt out in the constitution.
