Tuesday, September 10, 2024 - The Forestry and Wild Life in Borno Ministry of Environment said a herd of elephants that allegedly strayed from neighbouring Cameroon has invaded and destroyed some community farmlands in the state.
A Director in the ministry, Ayuba
Peter, confirmed the incident in an interview with the newsmen in Maiduguri on
Monday, September 9, 2024.
Peter said the incident had become
perennial in the last five years in the area.
“We have been having reports of elephants
destroying farmlands in Gamboru/Ngala and Kala-Balge Local Government Areas for
the past five years," he said
“They used to come from a forest reserve in
the neighbouring Cameroon Republic at this time and roam around, causing
serious destruction to farmlands until flood water recedes around December.”
He further said that the menace had been
reported to the Federal Government through the National Park for urgent
intervention.
He said that facilities, such as guns and
firecrackers, are needed to scare the elephants away
Peter said that efforts by the ministry
were being frustrated by flooding, coupled with insecurity in the border
communities.
He called for concerted efforts by various
stakeholders, including non-governmental organisations, to permanently arrest
the menace.
He also appealed to the government at all
levels to give financial support to the farmers, whose farmlands were
destroyed.
In a letter to Governor Babagana Zulum, a community leader,
Baba Hassan from Ngala, called for urgent measures to address the problem.
Hassan expressed worry that farmers in the
community suffered huge losses, worth millions of naira, to the rampaging
animals.
“The recent invasion of the farmlands by
elephants has resulted in the destruction of vast hectares of crops that the
owners rely on for their livelihood,” he said.
“Imagine the despair and hopelessness these
people are going through as their farms are trampled and devoured by these
destructive creatures
"Government must intervene to
permanently put an end to the menace, which threatens food security and the
economy of these communities.
“In the midst of already challenging times,
marked by hardship, high cost of living, and soaring food prices, this
unfortunate incident has exacerbated the difficulties faced by the vulnerable
members of our communities.”
He recommended the setting up of barriers,
employing trained personnel to stop the elephants from encroaching on the
farmlands and community awareness programmes on elephant behaviour and habitat
protection.
Other affected farmers, including Bunu Modu
and Musa Ali of Gamboru/Ngala LGA, described the recurring invasion of their
farms as frustrating.
Also, Allamin Hassan and Hala Idris, said
they lost so much in their farms to the attack and appealed to the State and
Federal Governments to take urgent measures to end the phenomenon.
According to them, something has to be done
quickly before farmers would be compelled to confront the elephants.
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