NEWS
Gombe Farmers Lament Alleged Destruction of Farms by Grazing Cattle
Some farmers in Gombe State have lamented the alleged invasion of their farms by some herdsmen, turning their farmlands into grazing fields.
Some of the affected farmers are from Akko, Funakaye, Kaltungo and Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Areas of Gombe State.
The farmers while speaking in separate interviews on Wednesday in Gombe expressed their frustrations and concerns on the increasing cases of cattle destroying farmlands.
Garba Deba, a cowpea farmer from Kuri community alleged that his farm which was ready for harvest in a couple of days was destroyed by cattle through over-night grazing.
Deba said he was frustrated and devastated by the situation in view of his huge investment.
He stated that he was not the only one affected in his community, noting that other farmers had similar experiences.
“It is very painful to see how good your farmland turned out to be and hoping to harvest and make good money only to come one morning and everything is gone.
“This is particularly worrisome because of the cost of inputs and agrochemicals bought to cultivate the farms and you have nothing to show, this is sad,” he said.
For Ibrahim Aliyu in Bajoga, it is a sad story that must be addressed once and for all, saying “we cannot continue like this.
“There must be respect for people’s sources of livelihoods and that should be the norm.
“If I cannot kill anyone’s cow, why will anyone take his cows to eat my crops? As the cows are to the herders that is how my crops are to me,” Aliyu lamented.
Usman Kumo, another farmer from Kumo community said that his beans farm was destroyed allegedly by herders who took their cows to his farmlands and destroyed “almost everything on my farm.
“I was anticipating about five bags of beans but I only got two big paint rubbers, how do I cope with that looking at how much I invested,” he queried.
Nasir Baba, another farmer from Kaltungo urged the state government to go round affected villages and collate names of farmers whose farmlands were grazed and find a way of compensating them.
He stated that some farmers were already angry and tension is high.
Baba also urged the security agencies to deploy some personnel to farmlands to monitor harvesting activities and prevent possible clash.
However, in a press statement on Wednesday, Hayatu Usman, the Commissioner of Police in Gombe State directed improved visibility patrols and stakeholders’ engagement as proactive measures to avert farmers/herders clashes.
The statement was issued to journalists in Gombe by ASP Buhari Abdullahi, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state.
Usman said the directive for officers of the command to engage relevant stakeholders was in view of the role of non-kinetic strategies in mitigating the conflict between farmers and herders.
He stated that a lot of engagements and sensitisations were already being carried out at the state level on the need for all stakeholders to embrace peace and maintain the prevailing peace in the state.
“In the event of encroachment, the command advises members of the general public to embrace dialogue, avoid confrontation and report immediately to relevant authorities for necessary action,” he said.(NAN)
NEWS
Bill to Rename Benue Varsity Passes First Reading
A bill to rename the Benue State University (BSU) Makurdi to Moses Orshio Adasu University has passed first reading at the Benue State House Assembly.
The bill was read during Wednesday plenary by the acting Clerk of the House, Mr John Hwande.
Also during the plenary, a bill for the establishment of Benue State University of Agriculture, Science, and Technology, Ihugh, in Vandeikya local government area also passed first.
Daily asset reports that three other bills also passed first reading.
The bills include a bill for a law to amend a free and compulsory basic education and a bill for a law to establish a task force on quality healthcare and prevention of quackery in the state.
Report says that two out of the bills, which were from the executive, were presented to the house by the Majority Leader, Mr Saater Tiseer.
The others were presented by the member representing Gboko East Constituency, Mrs. Becky Orpin, and that of Kwande West, Mr Thomas Dugeri.
The Speaker, Aondona Dajoh, who presided over plenary, referred them to the House Standing Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative scrutiny. (NAN)
NEWS
Tinubu Approves Leadership Changes for Oye-Ekiti, Lokoja Varsities
President Bola Tinubu has approved the swap of Pro-Chancellors and Chairmen of the Governing Councils of Federal University Oye-Ekiti and its Lokoja counterpart.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
“In the reshuffling, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba, the Pro-Chancellor of Federal University, Lokoja, will move to Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, while Mr Kayode Ojo, who previously held a similar position at Oye-Ekiti, will assume same role in Lokoja.
“This strategic change is part of Tinubu’s initiative to foster diversity and national cohesion in the management of the country’s universities,” he said.
(NAN)NEWS
NYSC Gets new State Coordinator in Delta
Mr John Kwaghe has assumed duty as the new Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Delta.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mrs Stella Ogbummuo, NYSC state Public Relations Officer, on Wednesday in Asaba.
The statement said that Mr Kwaghe, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Master’s degree in Career Management hails from Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
“The new state coordinate has worked in many states and the National Directorates Headquarters in different capacities including Ekiti and Nasarawa State.
“In line with the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters’ sustained drive to optimise the scheme’s operations nationwide, a new state coordinator has been posted to take over the headship of NYSC Delta State secretariat.
“He will take over from Mr Olusegun Alao, who has been transferred to NYSC South South Area Office 1, Delta State,” Ogbummuo stated. (NAN)