…Farmers Seek Urgent Government Intervention
From Umar Dankano, Yola
Residents of Ketembere Community in Shelleng Local Government Area of Adamawa State have appealed to the Federal and Adamawa State governments to urgently intervene over recurring attacks by hippopotamuses that have devastated farmlands and, in some cases, claimed lives.
The residents raised the alarm over repeated invasions by the wild animals, which they said originate from the Kiri Dam and frequently destroy crops and threaten lives, leaving many peasant farmers struggling to sustain their livelihoods.
The latest incident occurred on Sunday when several hippopotamuses reportedly strayed into nearby farms, feeding on and trampling cultivated crops, including maize and rice, before returning to the river. The attack caused significant losses to farmers who rely on agriculture as their primary source of food and income.
Speaking on the incident, a farmer, Alhaji Ngadan Muhammad of Ketembere Community, said more than 20 farms were affected, with some completely destroyed.
According to him, the animals consume crops while others are damaged beyond recovery as the hippopotamuses move through the farmlands.
He explained that the attacks occur every rainy season when the animals leave the river in search of food.
“As soon as the rainy season begins, the hippopotamuses come out in large numbers to feed on our crops, including maize, rice, sweet potatoes and other farm produce. Sometimes, they also attack and kill people, especially fishermen and farmers working close to the river,” he said.
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Ngadan lamented that the destruction had caused losses worth millions of naira, noting that the animals often fight among themselves on farmlands, causing even greater damage.
“Our situation is very bad because these hippopotamuses have destroyed our farmlands. Some farmers have lost everything, while others have had large portions of their farms trampled.
“This has become an annual occurrence. We thank God that no life was lost this year, but last year we lost one of our people during one of these attacks. We are appealing to the Federal and Adamawa State governments to come to our aid,” he appealed.
He, however, commended the District Head of Shelleng, Alhaji Abdulrahman, for his consistent support for affected farmers, describing him as a dependable leader who deserves recognition.
Another victim, Alhaji Yusuf Ahmad of Shelleng, said the affected farms are located near the river inhabited by hippopotamuses, making them highly vulnerable to attacks.
“Our farms are situated near the river where the hippopotamuses live. They come out to feed on our crops, including maize, rice and other produce, causing huge losses to farmers,” he said.
Ahmad further disclosed that the menace extends beyond crop destruction, revealing that the animals have claimed lives in recent years.
According to him, some schoolchildren drowned after being attacked by hippopotamuses while bathing in the river, highlighting the danger faced by communities living close to the water body.
He said the continued presence of the wild animals has disrupted farming activities, created fear among residents and threatened food production in the area.
He appealed to the government to take urgent action, stressing that timely intervention would protect lives, preserve farmlands, strengthen food security and improve agricultural productivity in the affected communities.
When contacted, the Adamawa State Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Mohammed Sadiq Kalu, confirmed that the ministry had received complaints from the affected communities.
He said the state government is assessing the situation and considering appropriate measures to address the recurring attacks.
Experts say the persistent destruction poses a serious threat to the livelihoods of residents, as farming remains the major source of food and income in the affected communities. They urged relevant authorities to act swiftly to prevent further destruction of crops, livelihoods and human lives.
