Oyo Farmers Bemoan Rising Insecurity, Shun Farming Activities
. Kidnappers Demand N10 Million On 70-Year Old Farmer
. Agricultural Produce Shrinks
By By Frederick Wright
Farmers in the Saki axis of Oyo State have cried out over the high level of insecurity that has made them shy away from operating their farms.
The farmers, under the aegis of Saki West/Wewe Community Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited, in a petition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, urged the governments to help them resolve the insecurity challenges along Oke-Ogun 10 local governments in the state.
Describing Oke-ogun as one of the food baskets in the Southwest region of Nigeria, the group said about 300,000 tons of agricultural foods are realized in Saki-West local government only.
The petition, signed by the Coordinator of Saki West/Wewe Community, Alh. Salami Nasiru Alasoadua, said the farmers are experiencing difficulties in working in their farms due to the high rate of kidnapping.
He said: “The assessment made us realize 300,000 tons of agricultural foods in only Saki-West local government, Oyo State, Nigeria, as at the year 2015, but today, it will be a bit difficult to see 50,000 to 100,000 tons because the farmers are experiencing difficulties in working in their farms due to the high rate of kidnapping.
“On the 5th of October 2024, a hold to ransome experience was also recorded in Irewolede village along Ago-Are Road about 12km to Saki where a woman in her late 70s was kidnapped by the kidnappers terrorizing these communities.
“According to her relatives, they said the old woman went to the farm on the 5th of October 2024 in the morning to work on her farm, and the expected time for the old woman to return as usual passed but they are yet to see her return, they went to search for her and put all possible calls through but everything seems impossible until late hours.
“Those kidnappers put a call through and demanded N10 million as ransome before she can be released.
“A lot of experiences like this have been recorded without government intervention, and these critical experiences made farmers who are willing to work reduce because there is no guarantee of lives saved.
“His Excellency, we are now using this medium to beseech you to put concern on these cases of insecurities in Wewe Community and Oke-Ogun local government, Oyo State, and we also promise to support the government in any way we can be of assistance.
“The people of the Saki West/Wewe Community also extend their heartfelt gratitude as they believe in your mandate, and they are always ready to work alongside you for a new Nigeria,” the group stated.
