Insecurity: Help Us To Access Our Farm Lands, Benue Farmers Beg Alia, Federal Govt

Farmers in Benue State  communities facing security challenges have appealed to Governor Hyacinth Alia and the federal government to deploy the military and other security operatives to the affected areas for them to access their farm lands.

According to the farmers, security personnel should be deployed to the most affected communities in Tombo ward in Logo local government area, parts of Katsina Ala and Ukum local government areas where bandits suspected to be herdsmen have displaced farmers.

A resident of Tombo ward, Logo local government area and a farmer, Torshua Torshua, lamented the deteriorating security situation in the area as farmers may not be able to access their farm lands if government fails to intervene.

Torshua who stated this yesterday said, “ The security situation in Tombo ward, Logo local government area of Benue State, continues to deteriorate, severely impacting residents’ ability to access their farmlands due to heightened fear for their safety, effectively restricting movement to Ayilamo, the ward headquarters.

“Extensive areas of arable land along the River Benue have been occupied by herdsmen, who persistently attack and kill community members, rendering it impossible for locals to engage in farming activities, thereby exacerbating food insecurity.”

Torshua added that, “Immediate assistance is crucial to empower the affected populations to resume agricultural activities.

“Therefore, an urgent and collective intervention from both state and federal governments, including the strategic deployment of military and police personnel, is fervently sought to restore safety and facilitate unhindered access to farmlands. Anything less, we are dying of hunger. We passionately appeal to authorities,”  he alerted.

To this end, chairman Ukum local government area,  Jonathan Modi , has toured some troubled communities like Ayati, Agena Agbaaye, Alabar among others that had witnessed security challenges and displacement of residents.

Media aide to Ukum Council chairman, Samuel Terkuma Atsua in a statement said

accompanied by security personnel, Modi visited Ayati and Agena Agbaaye in Borikyo Ward, as well as Alabar in Kundav, communities that were once severely affected by insecurity, forcing many inhabitants to abandon their homes and farmlands.