By Scholastica Joseph, Makurdi
A farm belonging to a former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in Benue State, has been set on fire by hoodlums suspected to be members of the farm community.
Sources from the community said the farm, a mango orchard, located at Howe, few kilometers from Aliade, in Gwer Local Government Area of Benue State, was destroyed by over 50 percent.
The farm manager, Zubello Muhammed, who spoke to journalists said he traveled out of the area for an official assignment last weekend, when he was called and informed that the farm was on fire.
He stated that when he arrived the farm, they tried to put out the fire but to no avail.
While noting that the fire could not have started by mistake, Mohammed explained that the parameters of the farm were carefully fire traced to avoid such incident.
He however alleged that it was not unconnected to some mischief makers who are demanding for compensation of the portion of the land where the farm is located.
The farm manager stated that he had prevented several attempts to set the farm ablaze during this dry season, pointing out that despite numerous benefits members of the host community stand to benefit from the farm, they have insisted that compensation should be given to them.
Confirming the incident to journalists on phone, the Chairman of Gwer Local Government Area, Mr Emmanuel Ortserga who visited the scene of the fire expressed shock at the level of damage on the farm saying he had directed security agents to apprehend and prosecute perpetrators of the dastardly act.
According to him, four suspects have been arrested so far while other would be arrested soon.
Also, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Catherine Anene, in a message, further confirmed the incident saying “I am aware former President Obasanjo’s farm was engulf with fire but the command is yet to establish the cause of the fire.”
Meanwhile, the Director, State Fire Service, Engr. Donald Ikyaaza, expressed pain over the incident saying “I discharged my men to that place immediately and the portion we met, we were able to put out the fire outrightly.
He however expressed disappointment at the treatment meted out on his men on their way back. “Infact, my men while coming back in the night, armed robbers caught them, beat them seriously and collected all their handsets so that was the compensation we got for fighting fire at Obasanjo’s farm.
Mr Ikyaaza said the exact cause of the fire was not knowing adding “the men who went there said the people were fighting for compensation for land. Maybe the land was not adequately compensated so that’s why they decided to set fire on the farm. That’s the only information I got from them.”
