Categories: NewsNigeria News

Suspected Hoodlums Raze Obasanjo’s Farm

Suspected hoodlums have razed Obasanjo’s farm.

Glamtush reports that yet-to-be-identified persons have razed a mango farm belonging to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Benue State.

Obasanjo’s spokesman, Kehinde Akinyemi, confirmed the burning of the 2,420 hectares farmland in a statement on Tuesday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

He said the incident occurred over the weekend at Howe in the Aliade area of Gwer East Local Government of Benue.

According to Akinyemi, Obasanjo described the incident as a bad development while the local and state governments, as well as the security agencies, have taken up the issue with a view to fishing out the perpetrators for prosecution.

The former president thanked those who had called him to identify with him on the incident, saying it was gladdening that no death was recorded despite the huge loss on the farmland as a result of the inferno.

The incident has also been condemned by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue who ordered a full-scale investigation to unravel the remote and immediate cause of the inferno.

He was said to have given the directive while receiving the report of the incident from the Chairman of the local government, Mr Emmanuel Otserga.

“It is discovered that the fire was an act of sabotage, the perpetrators must be brought to book,” the governor was quoted as saying in a statement on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur.

He insisted that no act of sabotage would be tolerated, saying that his government has a deliberate policy to encourage local and foreign investors, especially in the agricultural sector.

Governor Ortom, therefore, tasked the security agencies in the state to do all that was necessary to get to the root of the matter forthwith.

“It is the height of irresponsibility for anyone to think of setting ablaze a farm that is set to, in a very near future, boost the economic development of the area in particular and state in general,” he said.

“Obasanjo, as a former president, is a statesman and needs to be accorded his due respect anywhere in Nigeria and Benue State cannot be an exception.”

The governor directed the Commissioner of Police in Benue to ensure that the perpetrators were immediately apprehended and brought to book.

Earlier, Atserga told Governor Ortom that over half of the mango farm, covering over 139 hectares of land, was razed and four suspects have been arrested and more were being trailed.

“From the look of things, the fire was caused by the deliberate act of mischief makers,” he said. “The farm is well safeguarded, there is no way fire can cross over from any quarter into the farm.”

Angela Davies

Recent Posts

Star Life: Saras & Kumud Teasers November 2024

Star Life's new series, Saras & Kumud teasers November 2024, can be accessed below.  …

8 hours ago

Polaris Bank Clinches “Best Mobile App” Award At Digital Jurist Awards 2024

Polaris Bank clinched the "Best Mobile App" award at the Digital Jurist Awards 2024.  …

8 hours ago

Access Holdings’ Total Assets Grows to ₦41.1 Trillion in Q3

Access Holdings’ total assets grew to ₦41.1 trillion in Q3.   Glamtush reports that Access…

8 hours ago

Nigeria Ranks Fifth Globally In Daily Social Media Usage (FULL LIST)

Nigeria has been ranked fifth globally in daily social media usage.   Glamtush reports that…

9 hours ago

Saras & Kumud Premieres On Star Life (Synopsis, Full Story, Casts)

Saraswatichandra, retitled Saras & Kumud, is Star Life’s upcoming series, which is a shift from…

9 hours ago

Top Summary From Nigerian Newspapers For Monday, November 4th, 2024

The top summary from Nigerian newspapers for Monday, November 4th, 2024, can be accessed on…

10 hours ago