Plateau Groups Condemn Destruction Of Hectares Of Farms By Invaders

Hectares of irrigation farmlands have been destroyed by suspected armed men in Miango District of Bassa local government area of Plateau State.

The attackers allegedly struck on Wednesday night when the residents were asleep and destroyed their crops, including cabbage, maize, coco yam, green beans and pepper cultivated.

Some residents told our correspondent that the incident has caused the farmers a major setback as a lot of them depend on farming for survival.

In a reaction, the Miango Youth Development Association described it as inhuman and a threat to food security in the area.

In a statement signed by the association’s public relations officer, Mr. Weyi Agara, the group said the destruction of the farms had exposed the affected families to hardship, hunger and economic uncertainty.

The association added that the attack targeted vulnerable residents who rely on agriculture for their livelihood adding that, “We condemn this barbaric act in the strongest possible terms.

“The destruction of farms and means of livelihood of innocent people is unacceptable and must not be allowed to continue,” the statement read.

The group called on security agencies to intensify efforts to protect vulnerable communities and ensure that those responsible for the destruction were apprehended and prosecuted.

Similarly, the Plateau Initiative for Development and Advancement of the Natives (PIDAN) condemned the destruction of the farmlands and the persistent attacks on rural communities across the state.

The secretary-general of PIDAN, Mr. Danjuma Dickson Auta, lamented the worsening security situation in rural communities, saying residents were becoming increasingly frustrated by repeated attacks and destruction of their means of livelihood.

“We are tired of these constant attacks on our communities and the destruction of farmlands belonging to innocent people who depend on agriculture for survival,” Auta said.

He called on security agencies and  government at all levels to take urgent steps to protect vulnerable communities and restore confidence among residents.