In a disturbing incident that has reignited tensions between farmers and herders in Ogun State, a large cassava farm valued at approximately N27 million was reportedly set ablaze by cattle herders in Adao Village, near Alabata, close to Abeokuta, the state capital. The event, which unfolded on February 19, 2025, has left the farm owner reeling from significant financial loss and sparked outrage among local residents who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.
According to sources familiar with the situation, the farm, spanning 35 acres, was discovered engulfed in flames when the owner, a local farmer named Adewale Ogunbayo, arrived at the site in the late afternoon. Witnesses claim that prior to the fire, a group of herders had been spotted grazing their cattle on the farmland, with several cassava plants already uprooted and consumed by the animals. The farmer reportedly confronted the herders, who then fled the scene with their cattle, though not before one cow was apprehended and later handed over to the authorities as evidence.
The destruction of the cassava farm is not just a personal tragedy for Ogunbayo but a blow to the local economy, where cassava remains a staple crop and a vital source of income for many families. The estimated N27 million loss reflects not only the value of the harvested crop but also the investment in labor, planting, and maintenance over months, if not years. For a region already grappling with economic challenges, such incidents exacerbate the struggles of rural communities.
The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed that it is investigating the matter, classifying it as a case of arson. Authorities have vowed to get to the bottom of the incident, with preliminary reports suggesting that the fire was deliberately set as an act of retaliation or intimidation. The police have secured the apprehended cow and are working to identify and track down the herders involved. This swift response shows the seriousness with which the state is treating the case, given the potential for such events to escalate into broader conflicts.
This incident is the latest in a series of clashes between farmers and herders in Nigeria, a longstanding issue driven by competition over land use. As herders seek grazing areas for their cattle, they often encroach on farmlands, leading to disputes that sometimes turn violent or destructive. In Ogun State, efforts have been made in recent years to mediate these tensions, including initiatives to foster dialogue between farmers and herders and to establish designated grazing zones. However, the burning of the Adao Village farm suggests that these measures have yet to fully resolve the underlying grievances.
Local farmers have expressed frustration over what they perceive as a lack of accountability for such actions. Many argue that without stricter enforcement and deterrent measures, herders will continue to act with impunity, endangering their crops and livelihoods. “This is not just about one farm,” said a community member who preferred anonymity. “It’s about our survival. If this keeps happening, what will we eat? How will we live?”
On the other side, herders often point to shrinking grazing lands and the pressures of sustaining their cattle as reasons for venturing onto farmlands. Drought, deforestation, and population growth have reduced traditional grazing routes, pushing them into closer contact with agricultural communities. While this does not justify arson or destruction, it highlights the complexity of the issue, which requires more than just punitive responses.
The Ogun State government now faces mounting pressure to address this incident decisively. Beyond the police investigation, there are calls for compensation for the affected farmer and renewed efforts to prevent future occurrences. Some have suggested the establishment of ranches or grazing reserves as a long-term solution, though such proposals have met with logistical and political challenges in the past.
As the investigation continues, the Adao Village incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragile coexistence between farmers and herders in Nigeria. For Adewale Ogunbayo and countless others like him, the hope is that justice will be served, and that their fields will no longer be battlegrounds in this enduring struggle over land and resources.
