BECO CONDEMNS MALICIOUS DESTRUCTION OF FARM CROPS BY BANDITS AND CALLS ON PLATEAU GOVERNMENT TO COMPENSATE AFFECTED COMMUNITIES.

The Berom Educational and Cultural Organisation (BECO) has noted with deep concern and sadness, the continued malicious and heartless destruction of farm crops which constitute the mainstay of rural economy of farming communities in B/Ladi and Riyom LGAs.

The latest cases are those of Sho, Rim, Jol and Sopp Villages in B/Ladi and Riyom LGs respectively, where farms grown with crops covering several hectares are maliciously destroyed daily by bandits, in an unseen display of gross insensitivity.

BECO is concerned that this evil act of malicious destruction of farm crops in the affected communities is part of a grand design to ruin the local economy, and impoverish our communities as well as create a permanent state of insecurity that threatens both the lives and livelihoods of the villagers as a prelude to displace and disinherit them of their ancestral habitat and land.

Given the ravaging consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on both macro and micro economies world wide, the negative effects of the destruction of crops on our rural dwellers can only be imagined. It beats the imagination to think that the very bandits who inaugurated the evil agenda of seting their cattle on farms of our People have since deepened their cultivation of grabbed lands and are steadily attaining food sufficiency levels, while pushing our communities into a state of unmitigated socio-economic vulnerability. This is absolutely unacceptable.

BECO is urging the Plateau State government to, as a matter of urgency, extent its policy of financial compensation to victims of loses from deliberate and direct economic sabotage to the affected farmers and communities. Doing so will help to stabilise the victims and prevent the ultimate evil agenda by bandits to displace and disinherit the affected communities.

BECO also wants the law enforcement agencies to ensure that all the bandits arrested in connection to the malicious acts be prosecuted and made to pay for the destroyed crops in full in addition to subsequent conviction by the court of law. This will serve as a necessary deterrence to all criminally minded bandits.

BECO urges all peace loving citizens to expose and condemn all acts of criminality and impunity that threaten peace, harmonious coexistence and inter communal relationship in Plateau State.

Da Chollom Gyang Secretary General.
August 7, 2020.

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BECO Calls on Plateau Govt to Compensate Farmers Whose Farm Crops Were Maliciously Destroyed by Bandits