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Residents of Asubuasu, a farming community in the Sekyere Central District of the Ashanti Region, have taken to the streets in a peaceful demonstration against the activities of Fulani herdsmen, whom they accuse of invading their farmlands and destroying their livelihoods.
Fulani
According to the angry farmers, the Fulani herdsmen have unleashed their cattle on their farms, leading to the destruction of crops and rendering their hard work futile. They also lamented that the herdsmen have polluted their only source of drinking water, leaving the entire community in distress.
Farmers Demand Release of Arrested Colleagues
Addressing the media during the protest, the leader of the aggrieved farmers, Mr. George Dapaah, called on the Mampong Regional Police Command and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to immediately intervene and release three of their fellow farmers, who, he claimed, were wrongfully arrested based on false allegations by the herdsmen.
“These Fulani herdsmen have found a new way to intimidate us by making false accusations against us. They accused our colleagues of killing their cattle, which is completely untrue. Now, our people are in police custody for something they didn’t do,” Mr. Dapaah lamented.
He described the continuous destruction of their farmlands as an attack on their means of survival and called on the government to act swiftly before the situation escalates into violent confrontations.
Destruction of Farms and Threats to Livelihoods
Some of the affected farmers also spoke to journalists, detailing how their farms have been ruined by the herdsmen’s actions.
“Our cassava, maize, and plantain farms have been destroyed beyond repair. These cattle trample on everything, and the herdsmen do nothing to stop them. When we try to defend our farms, they threaten us,” one of the farmers said.
Another resident revealed that the Fulani herdsmen have deliberately set bushfires, burning large acres of farmland to create more grazing space for their cattle.
“We are suffering. Every year, we invest our money and labor into farming, only for these herdsmen to come and destroy everything,” he lamented.
Urgent Call for Government and Security Intervention
The residents are appealing to the Ghana Police Service, the Ministry of Interior, and the Sekyere Central District Assembly to take immediate action to remove the Fulani herdsmen from their lands.
They warned that if authorities fail to address the issue, they may be forced to take matters into their own hands to protect their farmlands.
“We don’t want to take the law into our own hands, but if the police do nothing, we may have no choice,” a farmer cautioned.
The community members are demanding the deployment of security personnel to safeguard their lands and prevent further destruction, insisting that their livelihoods depend on it.
The protest ended peacefully, but the residents remain adamant that until the authorities act, they will continue to push for justice.
