Farmers Cry Out As Cattle Ravage Farms

Following the approach
of Christmas and New Year celebrations and the need for cattle dealers to move their animals close to their customers, some farmers have raised alarm over the destruction of their crops by handlers of the animals.
Investigations by The Tide in some farming communities reveal that much damage has been done to crops in some areas of the State.
According to Mr. Nfata Mathias from Rumuodogo in the Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Cattle have caused untold damage to his farms and other crops.
Mathias, a retired educationist who spoke to The Tide on his Experience said over the years, efforts by individuals  and groupsd in his community to checkmate  the cattle handlers  have not yielded results.
He said at this time of the year, most people buy whole cattle for sharing, a situation that prompts the owners of the cattle to move nearer to such the market.
He said efforts to speak with the main owners proved abortive as the handlers pretend not to understand the English language.
Further investigations by The Tide indicated that  other communities hit by the cattle menace include, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Abua and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni areas of the state.
Meanwhile, when The Tide visited one of the owners at their site in Ahoada where the cattle are kept he denied being the owner.
But a reliable source which asked not to be named, said it has been their practice not to own up to their responsibilities.