LUNGUDA COMMUNITY PROTESTS DESTRUCTION OF FARMLANDS BY WAJA, SEEKS END TO FRESH ATTACKS

Men and Women of Boshikiri in Dumna District, Guyuk Local Government Area, Adamawa state on Monday staged a peaceful protest against the destruction of about 85 farmlands and crops by men suspected to Waja.

Some men suspected to be Waja had on Saturday night invaded farmlands belonging to Lunguda men and women with cutlasses and sprayers and cut down guine corn, maize as well as sprayed herbicides suspected to be 24D on soya beans, beans among other crops, causing huge losses to farmers and communities.

The protesters appealed to both federal and state governments to act within14-days with a view to bringing an end to fresh attacks on their farmlands and crops or else resort to self defence.

The aggrieved Lunguda men and women who wore symbolic black outfits and carried placards, stormed the affected farmlands wailing, while demanding government's action against "wanton destruction" of their nearly harvested crops.

According to them, the fortunes of farmers in Dumna district, Guyuk LGA have been reversed by the invasion; thereby putting hundreds of families and communities on the verge of famine.

Cross section of the protesters further lamented that Waja community is paying lip service to the peace initiative being championed by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and his counterpart of Gombe state, Inuwa Yahaya, saying that the people do not mean well for the peace initiative.

They added that the recent havoc wrecked on their farmlands by Waja is the seventh (7th) attack after the peace initiative was introduced by Governor Fintiri, saying that the people have been pushing them to the wall even without any provocation.

The protesters however applauded Governor Fintiri' s led administration for its timely intervention in all the issues affecting Lunguda as a community, and promised to continue to be law abiding citizens for peace and development not only in their communities but across the state.

While calling for immediate arrest of those who destroyed their farmlands and crops, the protesters urged on the government to as a matter of urgency ban the operation of "Special Hunters"in Lafiya, Lamurde LGA in the interest of peace.

Speaking to newsmen while on the spot assessment of the damages recorded so far, the Member representing Guyuk constituency at the House of Assembly, Hon. Adwawa Donglock, commiserated with his constituents over the recent destruction of their farmlands and crops.

The legislator condenmed the act in its totality, saying that he has not seen the reason why government will be striving assidously to broker truce, while some people are hell bent in truncating the peace process initiated by the government. 

Hon. Adwawa, who is the Deputy Chief of the hallowed chamber, said that he has been part of the ongoing peace talks between the two communities who had been living together in peace for decades, saying that government will not in anyway allow the peace initiative to fail.

He commended Governor Fintiri's effort towards bringing an end to clashes between the communities, and appealed to the government come to the aid of those affected by the destruction so as to get what they will fend for themselves and their families as nothing can be planted at moment.

The Lawmaker pleaded with more especially the youth not to take laws into their own hands but wait for government's action, saying that he is confident that Governor Fintiri, who has the love of Guyuk and Lunguda people at heart will not disappoint them.

Also speaking, the District Head of Dumna, Mathew Amfani, observed that it is disturbing to find out that his subjects who have chosen to live in peace with their neighbours are being treated this way, pointing out that the action of Waja community towards his people calls for serious concern.

He urged on the government to expedite effort to end series of attacks on the farmlands of his subjects by Waja before it becomes something else, and called on the government to reach out to those that lost their farms with the needed support to keep them alive.

On his part, the Chairman Dumna District Development Association, Nelson Dalko, told newsmen that Lunguda man or woman does not forment trouble, but the treatement of Waja to their people is making them to think otherwise.

Baring her mind, one of the protesters, Patience Wycliffe, who described the act as barbaric and animalistic, appealed to security agencies to fish out the perpetrators and arrest them, advocating for more practical steps on the part of government and relevant authorities.

Patience, disclosed that they have no any other source of livelihood except farming, and that if somebody will come over night and cut down or spray herbicides on your farm does not want you to live.