From Yakubu Busari,Jos
A former Chairman of the People Democratic Party ,PDP, in Plateau State, Dr Haruna Dabin and 11 of his family members have been arrested and arraigned before an Magistrate Court in Amper for the destruction of farms that produces crops worth thousands of naira.
The one-time governorship candidate and 11 other persons were arrested and arraigned before the court for criminal mischief and conspiracy.
According to the charges, Dabin was arrested when he led 11 other persons to mowed down the cultivated farms in his village home town Kalashi in Amper District Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State due to an age-long family land dispute.
Amongst the crops destroyed were soya beans, maize and millet which are set to be valued at about nine hundred thousand naira .
Speaking to the media the farmers lamented that this is their only source of livelihood, of his rival
The destruction of these crops raises a lot of questions because it happened at a time when a lot of farmlands are been destroyed by unknown men and the tension generated is capable of a breach of peace not only in the state but the country at-large.
In the last month, maize, soya beans, potatoes, peppers and other crops cultivated on various hectares of farmlands have been destroyed in many communities in Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Jos South, and Bassa local government areas of the State, causing farmers losses running into millions of Naira.
This is the latest incident that was discovered and the perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted.
Governor Lalong who was appalled described as callous, criminal, inhuman and wicked, the reported willful destruction of farm crops in some communities in the state by yet to be apprehended criminals.
Governor Lalong while reacting to the ugly development said it is unimaginable that people will go into a farm and mow down flourishing crops that are nearing maturity and expected to be harvested in the coming weeks and months for whatever reason. This according to him is a premeditated act that must be addressed.
Lalong said “the recent case of such intentional decimation of farm crops in Kpachudu, Jebbu Miango in Bassa Local Government Area is condemnable and unacceptable. From the reports, this is a carefully planned and executed act that is not only meant to provoke crisis, suspicion and instability in the area, but also render the victims poor and hungry.
What these criminals fail to understand is that such actions will eventually leave the entire State and the country with food shortages where even the perpetrators will not escape”.
With the arrest and arraignment of the ex-PDP Chairman and others, it is believed that other culprits would be found and prosecuted to put a stop to the destruction and also establish grounds for lawful prosecution of suspects.
