Aso: Residents and farmers in Aso community, Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, have decried the activities of roaming cattle, alleging that they have continued to destroy farmlands in the area. According to News Agency of Nigeria, herds of cattle stray into farms daily, destroying crops worth millions of naira and threatening food security.
The residents said the situation was threatening their livelihoods, compromising environmental sanitation, and disrupting peaceful coexistence in the community. They called on the government and relevant authorities to intervene.
Mrs. Promise Anthony, a farmer in Aso community, told News Agency of Nigeria that cattle recently destroyed her maize and groundnut farm. She explained that upon visiting her farm to clear weeds, she discovered there was not a single stalk of maize or groundnut left. Anthony expressed frustration over the lack of response from community leaders and authorities when incidents were reported, leading many farmers to endure the losses silently. She appealed to the government to take urgent measures to protect farmers and prevent further destruction of crops.
Mr. Abubakar Ibrahim, another resident, shared his experience of cattle destroying his rice farm last year, which forced him to spend long hours guarding his farm this season. Ibrahim described his daily routine of staying on his farm from early morning until evening to prevent cattle intrusion. He urged the relevant authorities to address the recurring problem as farming remains his only livelihood.
Mrs. Esther Jude, a resident of One Man Village, alleged that cattle also wandered into residential compounds, leaving animal waste and causing property damage. She recounted an incident where her clothes and flowers were damaged by cattle, with herders making no effort to prevent the destruction. Jude claimed that the herders, often young, ignored her appeals and showed disregard for residents. She called for government intervention to prevent further incidents.
Mr. Paul Kayode, another resident, alleged that cattle grazed inside his uncompleted building after herders reportedly broke the padlock to gain access. Kayode recounted being threatened by a young herder with a sword when he confronted them. He urged community leaders and authorities to take urgent steps to address the situation and promote peaceful coexistence between residents and herders in the community.