Farmers fear to go to farms due to attacks by Fulani herdsmen

Dedeso (E/R), March 12, GNA - Farmers in five communities in the Fanteakwa District are scared to go to their farms due to constant attacks on them by Fulani herdsmen.

Farmers from Dedeso, Osubao, Akumeso, Motara and Brabrameteng told the physical assaults and rape, Fulani herdsmen allowed their cattle to destroy farms and whoever challenged them would have cutlass wounds inflicted on him or her. He said more often cattle numbering over 2,000 are sent to the bush in the night to graze at the time the people are fast asleep thereby destroying farms as well as polluting drinking water sources. Mr Amanor said the herdsmen are always heavily armed with guns, sticks, knifes and cutlasses.

Opanin James Tei, the 78-year-old Chief Farmer of Dedeso and head of the Krobo settler farmers, said due to the savagery and ruthlessness of the herdsmen, many of the youth in the area were abandoning farming and leaving to the cities to seek "white colour" jobs. He said five acres of his maize, cassava, beans and yam farms were destroyed by cattle last year. Opanin Tei said between 2007 and 2008 four people, including one Fulani herdsman, were killed during clashes between farmers and the herdsmen.