Yam seedlings, cassava farms razed by herdsmen in Benue’s Chembe

Joseph Irikefe

Suspected herdsmen have destroyed yam seedlings and cassava farms worth millions in Chembe village, Gaambetiev, Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

Chembe settlement, located on Anyiin- Wukari federal old road, has been under sustained herdsmen attacks for 10 years.

Most residents on the axis are in Internally Displaced Camps (IDPs) in Anyiin, the country home of former Governor Gabriel Suswam. They only return to the farm between 9 am and 4 pm.

The owner of the yam seedling and cassava farm Eric Chembe told newsmen: ” I got call from one of my elder brother’s wives that my yam seedlings and cassava farm of more than half a hectare was completely consumed by suspected herdsmen who grazed on my farms with their cattle late into the night.

“Since I got the sad news I am restless because the cassava is my main investment which I spent a lot of money cultivating.

“As a family man, who depends largely on my farm produce for survival and because of the harsh economy, I need no soothsayers to tell me that troubles have instantly doubled.”

He put the cost of the destruction of the yam seedlings and cassava at over N50m and called on security agencies to protect farmers if the Federal Government is serious about food sufficiency.