The Traditional Ruler of Iwoye-Ketu in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Joel Ademola Alaye, has warned officers of the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agents at the Nigerian-Benin Republic borders to seize imported cows instead of tomatoes and peppers that were locally grown in Ogun State.
The monarch also threatened to lead a protest to Governor Dapo Abiodun over alleged harassment of farmers in his domain by the security operatives in the area.
Oba Alaye reacting in a statement to what he described as the overzealousness of security agents in the ongoing Joint Security Border Task Force, where all farm produce like tomatoes, yam tubers, peppers and other perishable goods produced by the farmers in Imeko/Afon are being impounded by the operatives.
He condemned in strong terms, a situation whereby cows from neighbouring countries enjoy free movement into Nigeria, but farm produce planted in Nigeria are impounded while being transported within Nigeria.
"I wonder why thousands of cattle coming from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso are passing through Iwoye-Ketu everyday without any inhibitions from the Joint Security task force.
"If I may ask, who is more Nigerian between us and those who are bringing cattle to Nigeria from neighbouring countries? I strongly condemned in its entirety, the harassment of farmers from Iwoye Ketu by the security agents."
The royal father pointed out that, "our explanations to convince the newly constituted Joint Task Force to understand that the farmers are Nigerians, but living in a border town proved abortive.
"I appeal to the National Security Adviser to the President to quickly come to our aid, so that our farmers will be freed from bondage. Failure to allow our farmers to have free access to take their farm produce to the market, I will lead a strong protest to the governor's office and register our grievances". the monarch reechoed.
No comments:
Post a Comment