Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday urged security agencies to arrest and punish those who burnt his 2,420 hectares of farmland at Howe in Aliade area of Gwer East Local Government of Benue State.
The orchard was burnt at the weekend by some aggrieved indigenes who claimed they were not compensated for the land.
The locals, after setting the farm on fire, also beat up and robbed the firefighters deployed in the area to put out the fire.
The Chairman of Gwer local government, Mr Mr Emmanuel Otserga said over half of the mango farm covering over 139 hectares of land was burnt in the inferno and that four suspects have been arrested while others are being trailed to be apprehended.
The former president described the incident as a bad development, noting that the arsonist will be fished out by security agents.
Obasanjo acquired about 2,420 hectares of farmland in the community, where he planted fruits such as mango and orange, it was gathered.
A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, on Tuesday, Obasanjo said “the local and state governments, including the security agencies in the state, have taken up the issue, with a view to fishing out the perpetrators and prosecution”.
The former President thanked those who had called him to identify with him on the incident.
It’s height of irresponsibility – Ortom
Receiving the report of the incident from the Chairman of Gwer local government council, Mr Otserga, Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom stated that “where it is discovered that the fire was an act of sabotage, the perpetrators must be brought to book”.
Ortom said, “it is the height of irresponsibility for anyone to think of setting ablaze a farm that is set to, in a very near future, boost the economic development of the area in particular and state in general.
“Obasanjo as a former president is a statesman and needs to be accorded his due respect anywhere in Nigeria and Benue State cannot be an exception.
He then directed the Benue State Commissioner of Police to ensure that the perpetrators are fished out immediately and brought to book.
Otserga said he suspects foul play because “from the look of things, the fire was caused by the deliberate act of mischief-makers. The farm is well safeguarded, there is no way fire can cross over from any quarter into the farm”.
Director of the state fire service, Mr. Donald Ikyaaza also alleged that the fire was caused by sabotage.
