Professor Babagana Umara Zulum was said to have cleared his farm in Dalwa area on the outskirts of the capital of Borno state for the 2021 farming season in a demonstration that the area was free and secure for farming this year.
The governor’s action was displayed in a video and the said video has aroused the reaction of the residents of Maiduguri on Monday.
Reacting to the video in Maiduguri, residents told Daily Post that while they appreciate the governor’s zeal and call for them to brace up for farming, particularly in the outskirts of town, they would not buy into that sort of joke.
One of the residents said “he has all the security operatives with him on his farm. That is good because he is the governor but someone like me now, can you ask me to go there now? You know this is suicidal and it is impossible. For what, if I may ask? We know the number of people that have been slaughtered like chickens on their farmlands in Dalwa.
“One corpse is enough of a warning but we have seen many. My neighbour’s brother was slaughtered last year on his farm. For me, this is not an idea.”
Another resident, Bullumkuttu Bulama Modu said, “If people are to go to the farm in Dalwa, what security measures have been put in place? I have a farm at Kukwayangiya village in Dalwa area but I stopped farming on that land since Boko Haram came to occupy the general area. The Bulama (District head) is currently living in Maiduguri.
“That place is not accessible unless you have security with you and who will provide security for the common man? We love Zulum but sincerely, I cannot go to the farm in Dalwa for now. I think we poor people know the area far more than the reports given to the governor,” he added.
Falmata Adam, who lost her two sons to Boko Haram in Dalwa, disclosed that all of them want to return to their farm but the security situation would not permit them to.
According to her, if the governor went there as shown in the video, it is because he has the capacity to march those boys slaughtering people on their farmland.
“You are aware I lost two sons to Boko Haram on my farmland in Dalwa three years ago. Since then, we have not gone to that farm but the memories are still fresh. Early this year before the rainy season, some people from my area went to check on their farms but were chased by Boko Haram. Many people who are farming around Dalwa can tell you that the place is not safe yet,” Falmata said
Some people at Molai general area, which is a little distance from Dalwa were also interviewed and their reaction was that the place is not safe for farming.
Malam Kundiri Bakura said. “Boko Haram on motorcycles used to come around here in Molai, which is about 15km to Maiduguri. We have been seeing them, talk less of Dalwa, which is about 22km to Maiduguri.”
“I think the governor was there for political reasons and not to truly farm,” he added.
Also, Ibrahim Hyelnamta, a resident of Molai said. “I saw this video and we have talked about it. All we wanted was peace to return to Maiduguri. I am a Burah man and we are farmers. I also have about 3 hectares of land in Dalwa but for the past four years, I have not planted on that land. In fact, last time I could not harvest because Boko Haram took control of the area and chased the labourers working there. They (Boko Haram) harvested the crops. Going to Dalwa to farm is tantamount to committing suicide.”
Amos Mamza, a resident of Molai, also said that while people are aware that the Borno state government wants to ensure the return of peace in the state, whoever advised him to go to the farm and video himself to give people the impression that peace has returned to that part of town is only playing with people’s lives.
“If he chooses to go and farm in Dalwa that I know very well, then I wish him well and any other person that deems it fit but for me, I have since resolved to wait until real peace is back. We are all praying and we believe peace will return someday,” he said
According to Daily Post, many people, particularly those who have been farming in Dalwa area of Maiduguri, about 22 km from the state capital, expressed fear of going to farm in an area they all said had sucked the blood of many innocent farmers in the state.
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