Insecurity: Farmers cry out over siege in Nasarawa, seeks govt. rescue

By David Okpashi

FARMERS under the aegis of United Farmers Association (UFAK), Kadarko Chapter Wednesday raised an alarm over incessant attacks, invasion and alleged destruction of economic trees in their communities by unknown persons

The Association in a statement issued and made available to Journalists in Lafia claimed that the attacks have been going on unabated ed where houses were burnt, farm lands being confiscated Women and girls were also rapped as well as killing of farmers in several villages.

According to the statement, villages including Ayua, Sule, Upuur, Ngur, Kpale Bature, and many others across Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa State has come under several attack by the unknown gunmen.

According to the statement signed by the association’s Chairman, Dennis Denen Utsa and the secretary, Ayuba Thomas Bako
Chairman, United Farmers Association Kadarko Ufak and Ayuba Thomas Bako, indigent and vulnerable farmers have been suffering horrific violence in the hands of assailants whom the said have continued to disguised as herders,

“Tragically, this violence has resulted in the loss of over 1,700 farmers between 2011 and 2023, with approximately 30,000 households displaced”

The association further claimed that several appeals to the state government could not yield positive result and expressed their disappointment over lack of support from both the Nasarawa State Government and humanitarian organizations despite the ongoing killing and destruction of their property.

“These atrocities has been going on with out help coming our way neither from the government or humanitarian organizations by way of providing the needed assistance to these marginalized and abandoned farmers”.

The statement further accused the Police Anti-Terrorists Squad, Federal Road Safety Corps of several attempts in collusion with the suspected herders to eject the internally displaced persons (IDPs) from their camps in Kadarko.

The United Farmers Association then Appealed to the State government and other spirited organizations assist in the immediate return of the internally displaced farmers to their ancestral homes as well provide the communities with security to protect their properties.

The association also demanded the Reconstruction of houses and provision of basic social amenities for vulnerable IDPs and a thorough investigation and recovery of diverted items (palliatives) from local government chairmen, followed by their equitable distribution to IDPs.

“We remain committed and loyal to the government of Nasarawa state despite our neglect. We are advocating for peace, justice and a conducive leaving environment that could allow our Children go to school, and acquire a brighter future for themselves”, statement added.

Attempts to get reactions from the Director General of the Nasarawa state Emergency Management Agency, Zachary Allumaga and the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ramham Nansel could not be possible as they could not respond to calls at the time of filling the report.