Tension broke out in Tude community in Gwargwada chiefdom of Kuje Area Council of the FCT after some farmers reportedly seized three cows from a herder over the alleged destruction of their crops by cattle in the area.

Abuja Metro learnt that elders in the community quickly moved in to douse the tension and restore calm to the agrarian community.

A member of the Tude community, Ibrahim Dantani, said the incident happened on Thursday after some farmers went to their farms and discovered their guinea corn and rice farms had been destroyed by cows.

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He said the discovery of the extensive crop destruction prompted the farmers to trap and seize three cows and insist that the herder must pay for the damage before the cows would be released.

“In fact, three guinea corn farms and a rice farm were completely destroyed to the extent that the affected farmers had to mobilize themselves and seize three cows, after which they ordered the herder—who is a small boy between the ages of 13—to go and inform his parents to pay for the destruction of crops before they will release the cows,” he said.

According to him, some elders of the community later mobilized to meet with the chief of Fulani in the area, who later intervened in the matter to douse tension with a promise to compensate the farmers whose crops were destroyed.

“So, the chief of Fulani, who later got wind of the incident, quickly intervened. Some elders of the community led him to the farm to see the level of destruction caused by the cattle, in which he pleaded with the farmers and promised to ensure they are duly compensated for the crops destroyed,” he said.

Abuja Metro further gathered that several farmers’ crops were also destroyed by cows at neighboring Gwargwada village last month, a situation which also created serious tension in the area.

It was gathered that most of the affected farmers mobilized themselves to remain at their farms, guarding their crops till 7pm before they return home.

A farmer, Yakubu Maikasuwa, spoke to our reporter on Saturday via telephone, saying his rice farm had been allegedly destroyed by cows after the herders led them into his farm.

He said he discovered the damage when he went to the farm the next morning, which prompted him to immediately report the incident to the palace of the Agabe of Ugbada, HRH Alhaji Hussaini Agabi Mam.

“And it is not only my farm; there are several farms that were affected, until our chief now directed some of his palace aides to visit the affected farms in order to see the level of destruction caused by the cows,” he said.

He added, “And as I speak, the matter is before the chief, who summoned all Ardos and Fulani chiefs in his chiefdom, where he held a meeting with them last Friday after Juma’at prayer to express his displeasure over the matter.”

Meanwhile, the Ardo of Fulani in the area, Malam Shehu Aliyu, told our reporter via telephone on Saturday that the chief of Gwargwada had intervened in the matter at both Tude and Gwargwada communities, and that efforts were ongoing to ensure the affected farmers were duly compensated.

“Actually, we met with the chief of Gwargwada after last Friday’s Juma’at prayers at his palace. We strongly condemned the incident, even though some herders that destroyed crops are migrating herders, but efforts are ongoing to see that the matter is addressed,” he said.

The Agabe of Ugbada, HRH Alhaji Hussain Agabi Mam, could not be reached for comment as his phone line was not connecting but one of the palace aides, confided in our reporter that the matter is being addressed.