Barely 24 hours after an Isheri North landlord, Dayo Adekoya regained freedom from kidnappers’ den, seven other victims have been abducted.
The victims – two members of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) and five Eliasa Farm workers were kidnapped in Igbodu-Isiwo, Epe, a Lagos-Ogun border community.
It was gathered that the kidnappers clad in military camouflages, stormed the farm around 7am and whisked away their victims.
The two guards, who were employed to secure the farm and workers in the wake of incessant kidnappings, were said to have been overpowered by the kidnappers numbering about 15.
At the time of filing this story, the kidnappers who took their victims through a bush path to their speedboats, were yet to establish contact with the farm’s management.
According to a source, six farmers and a customer were kidnapped two weeks ago by gunmen who usually attacked in broad day light.
He said: “The state government and security agencies should focus more attention on the area because of the increase in kidnappings.”
The Nation reports that cases of kidnappings have remained unabated around the border communities.
Last month, 24-year-old Ifeoluwa Olabiyi was kidnapped alongside three others, all workers at Tanda Farms, and they only regained freedom after N2 million cash and two cartons of Red Label whiskey were given the criminals.
Olabiyi’s fiance, Ayodeji Akinyemi who negotiated with the kidnappers disclosed that they had a room for babies and first aid kit to treat the injured.
Police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP) said: “It is true, seven farm workers were kidnapped at Igbodu area and we are working to rescue them.”
Tag: Farmers
-
Gunmen kidnap two guards, five farmers in Epe
-
Gbajabiamila empowers fish farmers with N25m
T13he Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has empowered 100 fish farmers with equipment worth N25 million.
At the presentation in Lagos, Gbajabiamila said it was the first phase of his agricultural empowerment programme.
The beneficiaries were drawn from the Community Development Areas (CDAs) in his Surulere 1 Federal Constituency.
He said: “This is a special empowerment because every time people come to me saying I don’t want you to give me fish I want you to teach me how to catch fish.
“After consultation, I came up with this initiative and today each beneficiary is going home with equipment for fish sorting, grading, drying and cool storage worth N250,000.”
The House Leader promised that if the beneficiaries can build fish pond within their compound, “I will give you N2million to buy your first feed and with that you are gradually getting out of recession.”
He urged Nigerians to embrace agriculture as alternative way to cushion effects of the recession.
According to him, “the way to go now is agriculture not oil anymore. When we were growing up, one of the richest men in the country was Ibru. I use to think Ibru is the name of a fish not knowing it was the name of a man that made money from fish. So you will make money if you make good use of these equipment. Please don’t sell them,” Gbajabiamila pleaded.
-
Farmers enjoin Rivers to provide facilities
The Port Harcourt Glorious Harvesters Cooperative Society has enjoined the Rivers State government to provide facilities to farmers to boost rice production.
The President, Mr. Amos Ogbu, yesterday told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt the government should fix the millers and provide harvesters, plough, and other facilities to assist rice farmers to produce more.
He said the rice milling machines installed by the ex-Governor Peter Odili administration had become non-functional due to their non-usage for a long time.
Ogbu told NAN the present situation compelled the group to transport the tonnes of rice it produced during the 2016 farming season to Ebonyi State, for milling.
He said the cooperative spent over N500,000 transporting the rice to Ebonyi State and this reduced their profit.
“We paid N30,000 for the milling of a tonne of rice and spent N5,000 to parboil 50 kilogrammes of it. When you add all these to the cost of transport, the expenses become very high,” Ogbu said.
He said the cooperative planned to sell a 50 kg of rice for N20,000, but later realised the amount would not cover the cost of production.
Ogbu said the incurred expenses would have been avoided if the mills in the state were in good condition.
He, however, said the group was not discouraged by the challenges it faced, adding that it had bought rice seeds for the 2017 planting season.
-
Africa: Rice farmers lose $200m to parasitic weeds yearly
A team of researchers, representing the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Wageningen University, has raised the alarm over the enormous economic impact of parasitic weeds on rice production in Africa, threatening the food security and livelihoods of millions of resource-poor rice farmers and consumers in the region. The weeds threaten rice production in at least 28 countries on the continent that have rain-fed rice systems.
The most affected countries are Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone Tanzania and Uganda.
The team said smallholder farmers are losing every year half a million tonnes of rice worth about $200 million because of the weeds. Parasitic weeds are among the most destructive and problematic weeds to control. “When these plants invade food crops, they turn into ferocious weeds,” said Agronomist at AfricaRice, Dr Jonne Rodenburg. The most important parasitic weed species in rice are Striga asiatica, S. aspera, S. hermonthica and Rhamphicarpa fistulosa.
They are all endemic to Africa and can also parasitise other cereal crops like maize, sorghum and millet. The team of researchers reveal that these parasitic weeds, which survive by siphoning off water and nutrients from host crops, have invaded 1.34 million hectares of rain-fed rice in Africa, affecting an estimated 950,000 rural households. They are increasingly becoming severe due to an intensification of agricultural production and climate changes.
The areas affected by parasitic weeds are home to some of the world’s poorest farmers. Studies by AfricaRice and partners have shown that parasitic weeds seem to predominantly affect women farmers in Africa as they are often forced to grow rice on the most marginal and parasitic weed-infested plots. The researchers warn that these parasites are spreading fast in the rainfed rice area and if nothing is done to stop them in their tracks, the damage will increase by about US $30 million a year.
Rice is the second most important source of calories in Africa. It is also critical for smallholder incomes. Demand for rice is growing at a rate of more than 6% per year – faster than for any other food staple in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), because of changes in consumer preferences and urbanisation. Rice production is increasing across SSA, but the continent still imports some 40 per cent of its rice.
AfricaRice and its partners have been investigating and developing efficient parasitic weed management strategies that are affordable and feasible for resource-poor rice farmers.
-
Edo govt set to empower 50,000 farmers
Edo State Agric Business Ad-hoc Committee has said plans are underway to empower about 50,000 farmers in the state.
Mr Osaro Idah, the chairman of the committee, said this on Tuesday when members of the committee visited Mr Justin Okonoboh, the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, in Benin.
He said that the visit was to enable the committee to interact with the members of the House, a part of efforts to identify genuine farmers in their various constituencies who could drive the process.
Idah said that the farmers would be selected from the three senatorial districts of the state.
He said that the farmers would be trained in modern agricultural skills, adding that they would also be given farm inputs and implements to cultivate large hectares of land.
He, however, solicited the support of the House in efforts to acquire lands from the communities in the lawmakers’ constituencies for the scheme.
Responding, the speaker said that the House was ready to collaborate with the committee in efforts to take the youths off the street and empower them.
Okonoboh said: “It is unfortunate that the youths are no longer interested in agriculture but I think at this time we should all go into farming.
“There is a youth summit on agriculture coming up in March this year, the House will provide the legislation that would boost employment and food sufficiency in the state.’’
-
Agric: Ebonyi to partner 50,000 farmers
The Ebonyi State government has said it will partner over 50,000 farmers this year to boost agriculture and improve its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Governor David Umahi announced this last Friday in Abakaliki, the state capital, when he hosted a team from an international group, Zero Hunger Forum.
The governor also said 8,000 civil servants would benefit from FADAMA III programme.
Umahi expressed gratitude to the leader of Zero Hunger Forum and former President Olusegun Obasanjo for being part of the global efforts to end hunger in 2030.
The governor promised that his administration would support the team.
Giving a rundown of some efforts made by his administration to eradicate hunger in the state, Umahi said: “International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) injected over N4 billion into the society by reason of empowering over 6,000 farmers. Of course, we supported the farmers by standing in for them in their 50 per cent equity contribution.
“Through direct funding, over 15,000 farmers were funded directly by the state government. That is, to me, stomach infrastructure.
“So, this year, we are targeting over 50,000 farmers to partner with and to see how we can begin to eradicate hunger in Ebonyi State.”
-
Foundation gives farmers N100m loan
An industrialist, Chief Chamberlin Okechukwu Adiaso, has given a N100million loan to farmers in Abia State.
Adiaso, Mayfair Project Ltd Managing Director, said the loan was disbursed through the Nma Abia Co-operative Society.
He spoke during opening of an hospital in honour of his mother Mercy Adiaso in Obieketa autonomous community in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of the state under the auspices of this foundation.
He said: “I am the initiator of Nma Abia. We gave out agricultural loans free of interest in 2016. There are so many young men and women, who are loitering the streets because they have no one who can give them even N20, 000 to support their education. We have set up an educational scheme that cuts across the length and breadth of Abia State.
‘’Apart from giving out agricultural loans and scholarships, I have also been engaged in upgrading infrastructure in the rural communities. I started grading roads in my local government area and beyond to help open up the rural areas and create access to the villages.’’
Hailing Adiaso for the gesture, Think Nigeria First Initiative Director-General, Alhaji Abubakar Tsanni, urged states to emulate him to develop their communities.
He urged All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Ukwa Ngwa Local Government Area to imbibe President President Muhammadu Buhari’s change mantra by electing incorruptible leaders.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Vice Chairman in the state Chief Allen Nwachukwu praised Chief Adiaso for his empowerment of less privileged across the state.
He said Adiaso touched many lives by donating N100 million for agricultural soft loans.
The traditional ruler of Obieketa autonomous community, Eze Charles Chukwudinma, thanked Adiaso for grading all the roads in the local government and beyond.
The Diocesan Bishop of Ngwa Central Diocese Rev. Prince Uwaomakalu said Adiaso’s late mother, was a merciful woman, was kind to the church, ministers and expectant mothers. He said her maternity home should be named Mercy Maternity Home.
-
LCCI to Buhari: ensure farmers benefit from N500b BoA fund
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that genuine farmers benefit from the proposed N500 billion recapitalisation fund of the Bank of Agriculture (BoA).
Its Chairman, Agriculture Group, Mr Adeola Elliott, gave the advice yesterday in Lagos.
Elliott said the Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) operators should also be beneficiaries of the recapitalisation.
The Federal Government had on Jan.16 unveiled its plan to strengthen the operations of BoA by sourcing N500 billion for its restructuring and recapitalisation.
“There is need for government to evolve mechanism that will ensure funds from the bank is channelled to legitimate operators that will utilise it for increased productivity and economic development.
“We need to remove nepotism and politicising in the operation of the bank for the planned recapitalisation to have impact on the economy.
“It is a major challenge that inhibits the activities and influence of the bank to stimulate economic growth.
“It also exposes the bank to risk of non-performing loans because most of the past beneficiaries of funds from the bank do not have farming or business experience.
“These people disguise as farmers, constitute various cooperatives and associations and use their political affiliation to get loans that are usually diverted to other use.
“If genuine farmers and SMEs have access to the funds, there will be positive multiplier effects on the economy because it will be used judiciously,” he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview.
According to him, effective restructuring and recapitalisation of the bank will boost productivity, employment generation, rural development and aid inter-sectoral linkages.
He stressed the need for staff training and upgrading of the bank’s infrastructure to align with modern banking practice.
-
‘Portfolio farmers’
People in power love to talk about the importance of agriculture and how agricultural development is important for achieving the much-needed diversification of the country’s economy. They keep saying: “We need to look beyond oil.”
This June 2016 statement by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Audu Ogbeh, is useful because it helps to put a recent development in context: “Starting in 2010 –2011, the Government of Nigeria, after years of benign neglect, began to reform the agriculture sector. To refocus the sector, the government implemented a new strategy, the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA). In 2011-2016, the focus was on rebuilding a sector whose relevance had shrunk dramatically. That was reflected in the lack of lending to farmers by the financial system and the dramatic levels of food imports from across the world.”
Ogbeh added: “Today, as we evaluate the progress made under the ATA, it is apparent that additional work is still required in order to meet our objectives. Nigeria still imports a significant amount of food. Nigeria is also not earning significant foreign exchange from agriculture, meaning we are losing on both ends. Therefore, it became paramount to “refresh our strategy” to tackle these two issues head on. The Agricultural Promotion Policy (APP) is that refreshed strategy.”
Whether it is called “Agricultural Transformation” or “Agricultural Promotion,” what should matter is whether it will lead to agricultural development and the achievement of economic diversification.
This is why a recent observation by the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, is cause for concern. At an event organised by ActionAid Nigeria in Abuja to mark 2017 Global Week of Action to Fight Inequality, Wabba said: “I have seen of recent on this issue of diversification, I saw people with briefcase and ties calling themselves farmers. They have no connection with the real farmers in the village. They don’t have land. They are portfolio farmers, political farmers. If you go to the CBN, they collect those loans and divert it.”
If the dominant beneficiaries of the agricultural interventions of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are not farmers, properly so called, then something is seriously wrong with the country’s agricultural development campaign.
Can this picture painted by Wabba lead to transformation or promotion of agriculture, properly so called? Certainly, it cannot. It can only lead to a travesty of agricultural development. By extension, it can only further make the dream of diversification nothing more than a grand delusion.
-
20 Tiv farmers killed on Taraba’s Peace Day
No fewer than 20 Tiv farmers were yesterday killed in Dan-Anacha, Gassol Local Government area of Taraba State by suspected Fulani militias.
The killings took place as the state was busy at a “Peace Concert” in a stadium in Jalingo –the state capital – organised by Governor Darius Ishaku.
Dozens of other farmers were severely injured in the attack.
Some sources said Fulani marauders on Saturday afternoon invaded the Tiv community in Dan-Anacha, whose name was recently changed to Kwararafa, where they hacked down people. The hostilities lasted until yesterday morning.
Hundreds of Tiv residents have reportedly fled Dan-Anacha, although soldiers and policemen were deployed in the area to keep the peace.
Taraba State President of Tiv Cultural and Social Association (TCSA), Goodman Dahida, who met with security agencies and traditional rulers, said the bodies of 17 Tiv and two Fulani were recovered. The toll is likely to rise today.
“There are more bodies said to be lying in the bush which have not been recovered,” he said, adding that the killings were done with sophisticated guns.
Police spokesman David Mishal, who confirmed the killings to The Nation on the telephone, described the incident as an “undercover attack where you invade someone’s home and attack him when there is no war going on.”
He said he would release the “real details of the number of casualties,” to the media after conclusion of investigation by the police.
He said: “Yes; some unidentified groups of people, suspected to be Fulani, attacked Tiv in Dan-Anacha. We are trying to gather more information on the number of casualties.”
Gory photographs of Tiv farmers massacred in the “undercover attack” yesterday went viral on the social media particularly on Facebook.
Tiv farmers were killed massively by Fulani herdsmen between 2012 and 2014. The coming onboard of Governor Ishaku, who sued for peace and provided security, brought a near-end to the killings.
The displaced Tiv farmers have just returned to their homes to resume work on their farms when the Fulani opened a new chapter of hostilities against them yesterday.
TCSA President Goodman Dahida urged Ishaku to “do something urgently” to save the lives of hundreds of the Tiv farmers who have become endangered species in central Taraba.
Dahida posted on his Facebook wall: “What does a Fulani man want from a Tiv man for goodness sake? What are they gaining in the killings? Mr Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, these people are out again in their killing spree of Tiv people. Do something urgently or…”
There was a peace meeting in Dan-Anacha involving Dahida and other security agencies, reportedly at the prompting of Governor Darius Ishaku.
At the meeting were Commissioner of Police Yunas Babas, President of Fulani’s Miyati-Alla, the Lamdo Gassol, village head of Dan-Anacha, other Tiv chiefs, the divisional police office, the SSS and other opinion leaders.
The commissioner of police called for calm and truce, and created two camps for the displaced Tiv farmers.
Babas was seen stopping vehicles and asking fleeing displaced persons to return, with an assurance that they would be protected.