Farmers in Bayelsa State has raised alarm over the growing menace of armed herdsmen, alleging that they have taken over farmlands and are terrorizing locals.
Speaking in an interview with Arise TV News from 3:26, a distressed farmer recounted how herders, armed with AK-47 rifles, roam freely in the area, destroying crops and attacking residents.
According to him, the situation has worsened in recent years, with farmers now living in fear of being harmed while tending to their fields.
He claimed that despite government policies banning open grazing, enforcement has been weak, allowing herdsmen to continue encroaching on private farmlands with impunity.
The farmer revealed that his family had personally suffered from the crisis, stating that his wife was once pursued into the bush by the armed herders. He lamented that the attacks have led to significant losses, with crops being trampled by cattle and entire farms abandoned due to fear of violence.
He said: “The only place they gave them as an option for grazing is Bayelsa Palm. Now, they have gone everywhere, carrying AK-47 in the bush and chasing our women. Since June 31st, 2006, I have been farming, and now all my crops are gone. My wife was pursued in the bush. The law was signed on the 10th of March 2021, yet nothing is happening.”
Communities in the affected areas have repeatedly called on the state government to intervene and ensure the safety of farmers. Many have expressed frustration over the lack of action, despite the passage of laws aimed at regulating livestock movement and preventing herder-farmer clashes.