Women from nine villages in Southern Iman, Etinan Local Government Area have complained against open grazing by fulani nomads in their farm lands.
The villages are Ikot Obio Iko, Ayam Efa, Ikot Inyang, Ikot Obong Inyang, Ikot Eba-, Ikot Ese, Ikot Esen Oku, Ikot Mfon and Ekpene Ukpa all in southern Iman, Etinan Local Government Area.
The women led by Mrs. Affiong Nkereuwem Brownson, Secretary Ikot Obio Iko Women Association called on the royal fathers to intervene in bringing to an end cattle invasion and destruction of their farm land.
The women lamented that their crops have been destroyed leaving them to hunger and starvation in the face of present economic challenges facing the people.
She said for over 20 years the women have suffered in silence having complained to the village council without any solution. She called on the cow owners to take their cattle to cattle ranch in Uruan.
“We are hungry because our crops have been destroyed by cows that invade our farm land. We are here to plead with Iman Ibom traditional rulers council to intervene and help us as every community effort has failed to send the cattles away” the women lamented.
In his contribution on the vexed issue, the Village Head of Ikot Udoadia, Eteidung Efiok Ukpong, condemned the act saying open grazing is against the laws of Akwa Ibom State.
The Village Head of
Ishiet Erong, Eteidung Jonathan Esua commended the women for bringing the matter before the clan council as village heads have been wrongly accused of secretly collecting money from headers to come and destroy their crops.
Village Head of Oto Akan, Eteidung Dominic Emeh thanked the women for bringing the issue of open grazing to the Paramount Ruler but advised that the women take the issue to the Divisional Police Officer for further action.
Village Head of Ikot Eba, Eteidung Linus Ekong, collaborated the story of the women on the destruction of crops by farmers by cattle headers. He advised that there will be a meeting involving community leaders and the head of Hausa community, DPO and the House of Assembly member.
Eteidung Dennis Akpan, Village Head of Ikot Ebo said as a member of the committee on farmers and cattle owners but have not received any petition from communities. “We need a written petition against owners of the cattle. We have also been told that the cows are owned by our sons and we need to know those who own the cows”
He advised that the women take their petition to the local government for prompt action.
Responding Eteidung Linus Udosen, Deputy Chairman Iman Ibom Clan Council, who presided over the session regretted the new development in our communities where farmers are not allowed to reap the fruit their labour.
Eteidung Udosen who is the Village Head Ekom Iman lamented the high cost of cultivating a piece of land and wondered why another should deny a farmer the right to harvest his or her crops especially in these hard times.
He assured the women that the matter will be presented to the chairman of Etinan Local Government Area by the Paramount Ruler for appropriate action.
