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By Matthew Eloyi
Some unknown arsonists on Saturday, razed down 2,420 hectares of farmland belonging to a former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo.
The farmland called Orcha Farm, is located at Howe community, near Aliade, in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State.
Confirming the fire incident, the Director of the State Fire Service, Donald Ikyaaza, stated that his men deployed to the area during the incident, were able to put off the fire.
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He also confirmed that there are indications that the people were fighting for compensation for their land.
In his words, “maybe the land was not adequately compensated for, so that’s why they decided to set fire on the farmland. That is the only information I received from my men who went to the scene.”
It was however, gathered that the 140 hectares’ plantation was torched at about 2 pm on Saturday by the arsonists following probable disagreements with the locals over compensation for the piece of land that originally belonged to the state government.
Meanwhile, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has expressed sadness over the razing of the mango farm.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur, the governor ordered a full-scale investigation into the incident “to unravel the remote and immediate causes of the fire outbreak”.
