Veteran investigative journalist and publisher, Ibanga Isine, tells DARE AKOGUN how repeated herders’ attacks and management failures wiped out the N70m farming investment he made after returning from exile, and why he continues to fight for farmers’ rightsWhat inspired your decision to venture into commercial farming?I grew up in a family where farming was not just a tradition but a necessity. My father and mother were both teachers. At that time, teachers’ salaries were never enough to cater for a family, so they depended on farming to supplement their income.As children, we spent a lot of time on the farm. My father cultivated crops while also running a small shop in one of the major markets in our area. My mother sold fish and crayfish. Looking back today, I realise they understood something many Nigerians are only beginning to appreciate: you cannot depend on one source of income.Although my father died when I was about 10 or 11 years old, those early experiences shaped me. I learnt very early that hard work, diversification and resilience were necessary for survival.Years later, journalism took me across Nigeria. I reported extensively on agriculture and visited virtually every state. I travelled to the country’s food-producing belts and saw the enormous potential agriculture holds if properly managed.Those experiences gradually planted the idea that one day, I would not just report on agriculture; I would practise it.Was there a particular moment that convinced you it was time to invest?When I returned from exile last year, I started asking myself where I should invest my savings. I wanted something productive that would complement journalism because journalism alone is no longer enough in today’s economy.At the same time, I had witnessed remarkable changes in agriculture in Akwa Ibom State.Years ago, nobody believed crops such as tomatoes, onions, cabbage, watermelon and sweet potatoes could be cultivated commercially in the state. We were repeatedly told that the soil could not support them.But things began to change around 2018 through agricultural and entrepreneurship programmes introduced by the administration of former Governor Udom Emmanuel. Young people were trained in modern farming, and commercial vegetable production started taking root.As a journalist, I visited many of those farms. I saw people succeeding with crops many of us never imagined could thrive in Akwa Ibom. That changed my perception completely.Yet your first attempt did not go as planned. What happened?My first mistake was trusting other people completely. There was a farmer who constantly showcased his activities on social media. His posts looked convincing. His farm appeared organised and successful.I contacted him. He prepared a proposal and convinced me he could cultivate tomatoes and cucumbers for me.I invested about N5m. At the end of the farming cycle, there was virtually nothing to show for the investment. He blamed climate change. That was all. I lost the money.Did that experience discourage you from agriculture?It should have, but it didn’t. Instead, I thought perhaps I had simply trusted the wrong person.Then another opportunity came. One of my former trainees, a civil servant whom I had trained free of charge during media capacity-building sessions for Akwa Ibom information officers, approached me with another farming proposal.Because I knew the person and believed there was already a relationship of trust, I supported the project financially. Unfortunately, that investment also disappeared.Was that when you decided to establish your own farm?After losing money twice, I concluded that if farming was going to succeed, I needed to own and supervise the operation directly.I leased about three hectares of land along the airport road in Uyo.The land was almost virgin forest. We cleared everything.We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. What inspired your decision to venture into commercial farming?I grew up in a family where farming was not just a tradition but a necessity. My father and mother were both teachers. At that time, teachers’ salaries were never enough to cater for a family, so they depended on farming to supplement their income.As children, we spent a lot of time on the farm. My father cultivated crops while also running a small shop in one of the major markets in our area. My mother sold fish and crayfish. Looking back today, I realise they understood something many Nigerians are only beginning to appreciate: you cannot depend on one source of income.Although my father died when I was about 10 or 11 years old, those early experiences shaped me. I learnt very early that hard work, diversification and resilience were necessary for survival.Years later, journalism took me across Nigeria. I reported extensively on agriculture and visited virtually every state. I travelled to the country’s food-producing belts and saw the enormous potential agriculture holds if properly managed.Those experiences gradually planted the idea that one day, I would not just report on agriculture; I would practise it.Was there a particular moment that convinced you it was time to invest?When I returned from exile last year, I started asking myself where I should invest my savings. I wanted something productive that would complement journalism because journalism alone is no longer enough in today’s economy.At the same time, I had witnessed remarkable changes in agriculture in Akwa Ibom State.Years ago, nobody believed crops such as tomatoes, onions, cabbage, watermelon and sweet potatoes could be cultivated commercially in the state. We were repeatedly told that the soil could not support them.But things began to change around 2018 through agricultural and entrepreneurship programmes introduced by the administration of former Governor Udom Emmanuel. Young people were trained in modern farming, and commercial vegetable production started taking root.As a journalist, I visited many of those farms. I saw people succeeding with crops many of us never imagined could thrive in Akwa Ibom. That changed my perception completely.Yet your first attempt did not go as planned. What happened?My first mistake was trusting other people completely. There was a farmer who constantly showcased his activities on social media. His posts looked convincing. His farm appeared organised and successful.I contacted him. He prepared a proposal and convinced me he could cultivate tomatoes and cucumbers for me.I invested about N5m. At the end of the farming cycle, there was virtually nothing to show for the investment. He blamed climate change. That was all. I lost the money.Did that experience discourage you from agriculture?It should have, but it didn’t. Instead, I thought perhaps I had simply trusted the wrong person.Then another opportunity came. One of my former trainees, a civil servant whom I had trained free of charge during media capacity-building sessions for Akwa Ibom information officers, approached me with another farming proposal.Because I knew the person and believed there was already a relationship of trust, I supported the project financially. Unfortunately, that investment also disappeared.Was that when you decided to establish your own farm?After losing money twice, I concluded that if farming was going to succeed, I needed to own and supervise the operation directly.I leased about three hectares of land along the airport road in Uyo.The land was almost virgin forest. We cleared everything.We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. I grew up in a family where farming was not just a tradition but a necessity. My father and mother were both teachers. At that time, teachers’ salaries were never enough to cater for a family, so they depended on farming to supplement their income.As children, we spent a lot of time on the farm. My father cultivated crops while also running a small shop in one of the major markets in our area. My mother sold fish and crayfish. Looking back today, I realise they understood something many Nigerians are only beginning to appreciate: you cannot depend on one source of income.Although my father died when I was about 10 or 11 years old, those early experiences shaped me. I learnt very early that hard work, diversification and resilience were necessary for survival.Years later, journalism took me across Nigeria. I reported extensively on agriculture and visited virtually every state. I travelled to the country’s food-producing belts and saw the enormous potential agriculture holds if properly managed.Those experiences gradually planted the idea that one day, I would not just report on agriculture; I would practise it.Was there a particular moment that convinced you it was time to invest?When I returned from exile last year, I started asking myself where I should invest my savings. I wanted something productive that would complement journalism because journalism alone is no longer enough in today’s economy.At the same time, I had witnessed remarkable changes in agriculture in Akwa Ibom State.Years ago, nobody believed crops such as tomatoes, onions, cabbage, watermelon and sweet potatoes could be cultivated commercially in the state. We were repeatedly told that the soil could not support them.But things began to change around 2018 through agricultural and entrepreneurship programmes introduced by the administration of former Governor Udom Emmanuel. Young people were trained in modern farming, and commercial vegetable production started taking root.As a journalist, I visited many of those farms. I saw people succeeding with crops many of us never imagined could thrive in Akwa Ibom. That changed my perception completely.Yet your first attempt did not go as planned. What happened?My first mistake was trusting other people completely. There was a farmer who constantly showcased his activities on social media. His posts looked convincing. His farm appeared organised and successful.I contacted him. He prepared a proposal and convinced me he could cultivate tomatoes and cucumbers for me.I invested about N5m. At the end of the farming cycle, there was virtually nothing to show for the investment. He blamed climate change. That was all. I lost the money.Did that experience discourage you from agriculture?It should have, but it didn’t. Instead, I thought perhaps I had simply trusted the wrong person.Then another opportunity came. One of my former trainees, a civil servant whom I had trained free of charge during media capacity-building sessions for Akwa Ibom information officers, approached me with another farming proposal.Because I knew the person and believed there was already a relationship of trust, I supported the project financially. Unfortunately, that investment also disappeared.Was that when you decided to establish your own farm?After losing money twice, I concluded that if farming was going to succeed, I needed to own and supervise the operation directly.I leased about three hectares of land along the airport road in Uyo.The land was almost virgin forest. We cleared everything.We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. As children, we spent a lot of time on the farm. My father cultivated crops while also running a small shop in one of the major markets in our area. My mother sold fish and crayfish. Looking back today, I realise they understood something many Nigerians are only beginning to appreciate: you cannot depend on one source of income.Although my father died when I was about 10 or 11 years old, those early experiences shaped me. I learnt very early that hard work, diversification and resilience were necessary for survival.Years later, journalism took me across Nigeria. I reported extensively on agriculture and visited virtually every state. I travelled to the country’s food-producing belts and saw the enormous potential agriculture holds if properly managed.Those experiences gradually planted the idea that one day, I would not just report on agriculture; I would practise it.Was there a particular moment that convinced you it was time to invest?When I returned from exile last year, I started asking myself where I should invest my savings. I wanted something productive that would complement journalism because journalism alone is no longer enough in today’s economy.At the same time, I had witnessed remarkable changes in agriculture in Akwa Ibom State.Years ago, nobody believed crops such as tomatoes, onions, cabbage, watermelon and sweet potatoes could be cultivated commercially in the state. We were repeatedly told that the soil could not support them.But things began to change around 2018 through agricultural and entrepreneurship programmes introduced by the administration of former Governor Udom Emmanuel. Young people were trained in modern farming, and commercial vegetable production started taking root.As a journalist, I visited many of those farms. I saw people succeeding with crops many of us never imagined could thrive in Akwa Ibom. That changed my perception completely.Yet your first attempt did not go as planned. What happened?My first mistake was trusting other people completely. There was a farmer who constantly showcased his activities on social media. His posts looked convincing. His farm appeared organised and successful.I contacted him. He prepared a proposal and convinced me he could cultivate tomatoes and cucumbers for me.I invested about N5m. At the end of the farming cycle, there was virtually nothing to show for the investment. He blamed climate change. That was all. I lost the money.Did that experience discourage you from agriculture?It should have, but it didn’t. Instead, I thought perhaps I had simply trusted the wrong person.Then another opportunity came. One of my former trainees, a civil servant whom I had trained free of charge during media capacity-building sessions for Akwa Ibom information officers, approached me with another farming proposal.Because I knew the person and believed there was already a relationship of trust, I supported the project financially. Unfortunately, that investment also disappeared.Was that when you decided to establish your own farm?After losing money twice, I concluded that if farming was going to succeed, I needed to own and supervise the operation directly.I leased about three hectares of land along the airport road in Uyo.The land was almost virgin forest. We cleared everything.We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Although my father died when I was about 10 or 11 years old, those early experiences shaped me. I learnt very early that hard work, diversification and resilience were necessary for survival.Years later, journalism took me across Nigeria. I reported extensively on agriculture and visited virtually every state. I travelled to the country’s food-producing belts and saw the enormous potential agriculture holds if properly managed.Those experiences gradually planted the idea that one day, I would not just report on agriculture; I would practise it.Was there a particular moment that convinced you it was time to invest?When I returned from exile last year, I started asking myself where I should invest my savings. I wanted something productive that would complement journalism because journalism alone is no longer enough in today’s economy.At the same time, I had witnessed remarkable changes in agriculture in Akwa Ibom State.Years ago, nobody believed crops such as tomatoes, onions, cabbage, watermelon and sweet potatoes could be cultivated commercially in the state. We were repeatedly told that the soil could not support them.But things began to change around 2018 through agricultural and entrepreneurship programmes introduced by the administration of former Governor Udom Emmanuel. Young people were trained in modern farming, and commercial vegetable production started taking root.As a journalist, I visited many of those farms. I saw people succeeding with crops many of us never imagined could thrive in Akwa Ibom. That changed my perception completely.Yet your first attempt did not go as planned. What happened?My first mistake was trusting other people completely. There was a farmer who constantly showcased his activities on social media. His posts looked convincing. His farm appeared organised and successful.I contacted him. He prepared a proposal and convinced me he could cultivate tomatoes and cucumbers for me.I invested about N5m. At the end of the farming cycle, there was virtually nothing to show for the investment. He blamed climate change. That was all. I lost the money.Did that experience discourage you from agriculture?It should have, but it didn’t. Instead, I thought perhaps I had simply trusted the wrong person.Then another opportunity came. One of my former trainees, a civil servant whom I had trained free of charge during media capacity-building sessions for Akwa Ibom information officers, approached me with another farming proposal.Because I knew the person and believed there was already a relationship of trust, I supported the project financially. Unfortunately, that investment also disappeared.Was that when you decided to establish your own farm?After losing money twice, I concluded that if farming was going to succeed, I needed to own and supervise the operation directly.I leased about three hectares of land along the airport road in Uyo.The land was almost virgin forest. We cleared everything.We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Years later, journalism took me across Nigeria. I reported extensively on agriculture and visited virtually every state. I travelled to the country’s food-producing belts and saw the enormous potential agriculture holds if properly managed.Those experiences gradually planted the idea that one day, I would not just report on agriculture; I would practise it.Was there a particular moment that convinced you it was time to invest?When I returned from exile last year, I started asking myself where I should invest my savings. I wanted something productive that would complement journalism because journalism alone is no longer enough in today’s economy.At the same time, I had witnessed remarkable changes in agriculture in Akwa Ibom State.Years ago, nobody believed crops such as tomatoes, onions, cabbage, watermelon and sweet potatoes could be cultivated commercially in the state. We were repeatedly told that the soil could not support them.But things began to change around 2018 through agricultural and entrepreneurship programmes introduced by the administration of former Governor Udom Emmanuel. Young people were trained in modern farming, and commercial vegetable production started taking root.As a journalist, I visited many of those farms. I saw people succeeding with crops many of us never imagined could thrive in Akwa Ibom. That changed my perception completely.Yet your first attempt did not go as planned. What happened?My first mistake was trusting other people completely. There was a farmer who constantly showcased his activities on social media. His posts looked convincing. His farm appeared organised and successful.I contacted him. He prepared a proposal and convinced me he could cultivate tomatoes and cucumbers for me.I invested about N5m. At the end of the farming cycle, there was virtually nothing to show for the investment. He blamed climate change. That was all. I lost the money.Did that experience discourage you from agriculture?It should have, but it didn’t. Instead, I thought perhaps I had simply trusted the wrong person.Then another opportunity came. One of my former trainees, a civil servant whom I had trained free of charge during media capacity-building sessions for Akwa Ibom information officers, approached me with another farming proposal.Because I knew the person and believed there was already a relationship of trust, I supported the project financially. Unfortunately, that investment also disappeared.Was that when you decided to establish your own farm?After losing money twice, I concluded that if farming was going to succeed, I needed to own and supervise the operation directly.I leased about three hectares of land along the airport road in Uyo.The land was almost virgin forest. We cleared everything.We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Those experiences gradually planted the idea that one day, I would not just report on agriculture; I would practise it.Was there a particular moment that convinced you it was time to invest?When I returned from exile last year, I started asking myself where I should invest my savings. I wanted something productive that would complement journalism because journalism alone is no longer enough in today’s economy.At the same time, I had witnessed remarkable changes in agriculture in Akwa Ibom State.Years ago, nobody believed crops such as tomatoes, onions, cabbage, watermelon and sweet potatoes could be cultivated commercially in the state. We were repeatedly told that the soil could not support them.But things began to change around 2018 through agricultural and entrepreneurship programmes introduced by the administration of former Governor Udom Emmanuel. Young people were trained in modern farming, and commercial vegetable production started taking root.As a journalist, I visited many of those farms. I saw people succeeding with crops many of us never imagined could thrive in Akwa Ibom. That changed my perception completely.Yet your first attempt did not go as planned. What happened?My first mistake was trusting other people completely. There was a farmer who constantly showcased his activities on social media. His posts looked convincing. His farm appeared organised and successful.I contacted him. He prepared a proposal and convinced me he could cultivate tomatoes and cucumbers for me.I invested about N5m. At the end of the farming cycle, there was virtually nothing to show for the investment. He blamed climate change. That was all. I lost the money.Did that experience discourage you from agriculture?It should have, but it didn’t. Instead, I thought perhaps I had simply trusted the wrong person.Then another opportunity came. One of my former trainees, a civil servant whom I had trained free of charge during media capacity-building sessions for Akwa Ibom information officers, approached me with another farming proposal.Because I knew the person and believed there was already a relationship of trust, I supported the project financially. Unfortunately, that investment also disappeared.Was that when you decided to establish your own farm?After losing money twice, I concluded that if farming was going to succeed, I needed to own and supervise the operation directly.I leased about three hectares of land along the airport road in Uyo.The land was almost virgin forest. We cleared everything.We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Was there a particular moment that convinced you it was time to invest?When I returned from exile last year, I started asking myself where I should invest my savings. I wanted something productive that would complement journalism because journalism alone is no longer enough in today’s economy.At the same time, I had witnessed remarkable changes in agriculture in Akwa Ibom State.Years ago, nobody believed crops such as tomatoes, onions, cabbage, watermelon and sweet potatoes could be cultivated commercially in the state. We were repeatedly told that the soil could not support them.But things began to change around 2018 through agricultural and entrepreneurship programmes introduced by the administration of former Governor Udom Emmanuel. Young people were trained in modern farming, and commercial vegetable production started taking root.As a journalist, I visited many of those farms. I saw people succeeding with crops many of us never imagined could thrive in Akwa Ibom. That changed my perception completely.Yet your first attempt did not go as planned. What happened?My first mistake was trusting other people completely. There was a farmer who constantly showcased his activities on social media. His posts looked convincing. His farm appeared organised and successful.I contacted him. He prepared a proposal and convinced me he could cultivate tomatoes and cucumbers for me.I invested about N5m. At the end of the farming cycle, there was virtually nothing to show for the investment. He blamed climate change. That was all. I lost the money.Did that experience discourage you from agriculture?It should have, but it didn’t. Instead, I thought perhaps I had simply trusted the wrong person.Then another opportunity came. One of my former trainees, a civil servant whom I had trained free of charge during media capacity-building sessions for Akwa Ibom information officers, approached me with another farming proposal.Because I knew the person and believed there was already a relationship of trust, I supported the project financially. Unfortunately, that investment also disappeared.Was that when you decided to establish your own farm?After losing money twice, I concluded that if farming was going to succeed, I needed to own and supervise the operation directly.I leased about three hectares of land along the airport road in Uyo.The land was almost virgin forest. We cleared everything.We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. When I returned from exile last year, I started asking myself where I should invest my savings. I wanted something productive that would complement journalism because journalism alone is no longer enough in today’s economy.At the same time, I had witnessed remarkable changes in agriculture in Akwa Ibom State.Years ago, nobody believed crops such as tomatoes, onions, cabbage, watermelon and sweet potatoes could be cultivated commercially in the state. We were repeatedly told that the soil could not support them.But things began to change around 2018 through agricultural and entrepreneurship programmes introduced by the administration of former Governor Udom Emmanuel. Young people were trained in modern farming, and commercial vegetable production started taking root.As a journalist, I visited many of those farms. I saw people succeeding with crops many of us never imagined could thrive in Akwa Ibom. That changed my perception completely.Yet your first attempt did not go as planned. What happened?My first mistake was trusting other people completely. There was a farmer who constantly showcased his activities on social media. His posts looked convincing. His farm appeared organised and successful.I contacted him. He prepared a proposal and convinced me he could cultivate tomatoes and cucumbers for me.I invested about N5m. At the end of the farming cycle, there was virtually nothing to show for the investment. He blamed climate change. That was all. I lost the money.Did that experience discourage you from agriculture?It should have, but it didn’t. Instead, I thought perhaps I had simply trusted the wrong person.Then another opportunity came. One of my former trainees, a civil servant whom I had trained free of charge during media capacity-building sessions for Akwa Ibom information officers, approached me with another farming proposal.Because I knew the person and believed there was already a relationship of trust, I supported the project financially. Unfortunately, that investment also disappeared.Was that when you decided to establish your own farm?After losing money twice, I concluded that if farming was going to succeed, I needed to own and supervise the operation directly.I leased about three hectares of land along the airport road in Uyo.The land was almost virgin forest. We cleared everything.We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. At the same time, I had witnessed remarkable changes in agriculture in Akwa Ibom State.Years ago, nobody believed crops such as tomatoes, onions, cabbage, watermelon and sweet potatoes could be cultivated commercially in the state. We were repeatedly told that the soil could not support them.But things began to change around 2018 through agricultural and entrepreneurship programmes introduced by the administration of former Governor Udom Emmanuel. Young people were trained in modern farming, and commercial vegetable production started taking root.As a journalist, I visited many of those farms. I saw people succeeding with crops many of us never imagined could thrive in Akwa Ibom. That changed my perception completely.Yet your first attempt did not go as planned. What happened?My first mistake was trusting other people completely. There was a farmer who constantly showcased his activities on social media. His posts looked convincing. His farm appeared organised and successful.I contacted him. He prepared a proposal and convinced me he could cultivate tomatoes and cucumbers for me.I invested about N5m. At the end of the farming cycle, there was virtually nothing to show for the investment. He blamed climate change. That was all. I lost the money.Did that experience discourage you from agriculture?It should have, but it didn’t. Instead, I thought perhaps I had simply trusted the wrong person.Then another opportunity came. One of my former trainees, a civil servant whom I had trained free of charge during media capacity-building sessions for Akwa Ibom information officers, approached me with another farming proposal.Because I knew the person and believed there was already a relationship of trust, I supported the project financially. Unfortunately, that investment also disappeared.Was that when you decided to establish your own farm?After losing money twice, I concluded that if farming was going to succeed, I needed to own and supervise the operation directly.I leased about three hectares of land along the airport road in Uyo.The land was almost virgin forest. We cleared everything.We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Years ago, nobody believed crops such as tomatoes, onions, cabbage, watermelon and sweet potatoes could be cultivated commercially in the state. We were repeatedly told that the soil could not support them.But things began to change around 2018 through agricultural and entrepreneurship programmes introduced by the administration of former Governor Udom Emmanuel. Young people were trained in modern farming, and commercial vegetable production started taking root.As a journalist, I visited many of those farms. I saw people succeeding with crops many of us never imagined could thrive in Akwa Ibom. That changed my perception completely.Yet your first attempt did not go as planned. What happened?My first mistake was trusting other people completely. There was a farmer who constantly showcased his activities on social media. His posts looked convincing. His farm appeared organised and successful.I contacted him. He prepared a proposal and convinced me he could cultivate tomatoes and cucumbers for me.I invested about N5m. At the end of the farming cycle, there was virtually nothing to show for the investment. He blamed climate change. That was all. I lost the money.Did that experience discourage you from agriculture?It should have, but it didn’t. Instead, I thought perhaps I had simply trusted the wrong person.Then another opportunity came. One of my former trainees, a civil servant whom I had trained free of charge during media capacity-building sessions for Akwa Ibom information officers, approached me with another farming proposal.Because I knew the person and believed there was already a relationship of trust, I supported the project financially. Unfortunately, that investment also disappeared.Was that when you decided to establish your own farm?After losing money twice, I concluded that if farming was going to succeed, I needed to own and supervise the operation directly.I leased about three hectares of land along the airport road in Uyo.The land was almost virgin forest. We cleared everything.We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. But things began to change around 2018 through agricultural and entrepreneurship programmes introduced by the administration of former Governor Udom Emmanuel. Young people were trained in modern farming, and commercial vegetable production started taking root.As a journalist, I visited many of those farms. I saw people succeeding with crops many of us never imagined could thrive in Akwa Ibom. That changed my perception completely.Yet your first attempt did not go as planned. What happened?My first mistake was trusting other people completely. There was a farmer who constantly showcased his activities on social media. His posts looked convincing. His farm appeared organised and successful.I contacted him. He prepared a proposal and convinced me he could cultivate tomatoes and cucumbers for me.I invested about N5m. At the end of the farming cycle, there was virtually nothing to show for the investment. He blamed climate change. That was all. I lost the money.Did that experience discourage you from agriculture?It should have, but it didn’t. Instead, I thought perhaps I had simply trusted the wrong person.Then another opportunity came. One of my former trainees, a civil servant whom I had trained free of charge during media capacity-building sessions for Akwa Ibom information officers, approached me with another farming proposal.Because I knew the person and believed there was already a relationship of trust, I supported the project financially. Unfortunately, that investment also disappeared.Was that when you decided to establish your own farm?After losing money twice, I concluded that if farming was going to succeed, I needed to own and supervise the operation directly.I leased about three hectares of land along the airport road in Uyo.The land was almost virgin forest. We cleared everything.We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. As a journalist, I visited many of those farms. I saw people succeeding with crops many of us never imagined could thrive in Akwa Ibom. That changed my perception completely.Yet your first attempt did not go as planned. What happened?My first mistake was trusting other people completely. There was a farmer who constantly showcased his activities on social media. His posts looked convincing. His farm appeared organised and successful.I contacted him. He prepared a proposal and convinced me he could cultivate tomatoes and cucumbers for me.I invested about N5m. At the end of the farming cycle, there was virtually nothing to show for the investment. He blamed climate change. That was all. I lost the money.Did that experience discourage you from agriculture?It should have, but it didn’t. Instead, I thought perhaps I had simply trusted the wrong person.Then another opportunity came. One of my former trainees, a civil servant whom I had trained free of charge during media capacity-building sessions for Akwa Ibom information officers, approached me with another farming proposal.Because I knew the person and believed there was already a relationship of trust, I supported the project financially. Unfortunately, that investment also disappeared.Was that when you decided to establish your own farm?After losing money twice, I concluded that if farming was going to succeed, I needed to own and supervise the operation directly.I leased about three hectares of land along the airport road in Uyo.The land was almost virgin forest. We cleared everything.We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Yet your first attempt did not go as planned. What happened?My first mistake was trusting other people completely. There was a farmer who constantly showcased his activities on social media. His posts looked convincing. His farm appeared organised and successful.I contacted him. He prepared a proposal and convinced me he could cultivate tomatoes and cucumbers for me.I invested about N5m. At the end of the farming cycle, there was virtually nothing to show for the investment. He blamed climate change. That was all. I lost the money.Did that experience discourage you from agriculture?It should have, but it didn’t. Instead, I thought perhaps I had simply trusted the wrong person.Then another opportunity came. One of my former trainees, a civil servant whom I had trained free of charge during media capacity-building sessions for Akwa Ibom information officers, approached me with another farming proposal.Because I knew the person and believed there was already a relationship of trust, I supported the project financially. Unfortunately, that investment also disappeared.Was that when you decided to establish your own farm?After losing money twice, I concluded that if farming was going to succeed, I needed to own and supervise the operation directly.I leased about three hectares of land along the airport road in Uyo.The land was almost virgin forest. We cleared everything.We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. My first mistake was trusting other people completely. There was a farmer who constantly showcased his activities on social media. His posts looked convincing. His farm appeared organised and successful.I contacted him. He prepared a proposal and convinced me he could cultivate tomatoes and cucumbers for me.I invested about N5m. At the end of the farming cycle, there was virtually nothing to show for the investment. He blamed climate change. That was all. I lost the money.Did that experience discourage you from agriculture?It should have, but it didn’t. Instead, I thought perhaps I had simply trusted the wrong person.Then another opportunity came. One of my former trainees, a civil servant whom I had trained free of charge during media capacity-building sessions for Akwa Ibom information officers, approached me with another farming proposal.Because I knew the person and believed there was already a relationship of trust, I supported the project financially. Unfortunately, that investment also disappeared.Was that when you decided to establish your own farm?After losing money twice, I concluded that if farming was going to succeed, I needed to own and supervise the operation directly.I leased about three hectares of land along the airport road in Uyo.The land was almost virgin forest. We cleared everything.We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. I contacted him. He prepared a proposal and convinced me he could cultivate tomatoes and cucumbers for me.I invested about N5m. At the end of the farming cycle, there was virtually nothing to show for the investment. He blamed climate change. That was all. I lost the money.Did that experience discourage you from agriculture?It should have, but it didn’t. Instead, I thought perhaps I had simply trusted the wrong person.Then another opportunity came. One of my former trainees, a civil servant whom I had trained free of charge during media capacity-building sessions for Akwa Ibom information officers, approached me with another farming proposal.Because I knew the person and believed there was already a relationship of trust, I supported the project financially. Unfortunately, that investment also disappeared.Was that when you decided to establish your own farm?After losing money twice, I concluded that if farming was going to succeed, I needed to own and supervise the operation directly.I leased about three hectares of land along the airport road in Uyo.The land was almost virgin forest. We cleared everything.We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. I invested about N5m. At the end of the farming cycle, there was virtually nothing to show for the investment. He blamed climate change. That was all. I lost the money.Did that experience discourage you from agriculture?It should have, but it didn’t. Instead, I thought perhaps I had simply trusted the wrong person.Then another opportunity came. One of my former trainees, a civil servant whom I had trained free of charge during media capacity-building sessions for Akwa Ibom information officers, approached me with another farming proposal.Because I knew the person and believed there was already a relationship of trust, I supported the project financially. Unfortunately, that investment also disappeared.Was that when you decided to establish your own farm?After losing money twice, I concluded that if farming was going to succeed, I needed to own and supervise the operation directly.I leased about three hectares of land along the airport road in Uyo.The land was almost virgin forest. We cleared everything.We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Did that experience discourage you from agriculture?It should have, but it didn’t. Instead, I thought perhaps I had simply trusted the wrong person.Then another opportunity came. One of my former trainees, a civil servant whom I had trained free of charge during media capacity-building sessions for Akwa Ibom information officers, approached me with another farming proposal.Because I knew the person and believed there was already a relationship of trust, I supported the project financially. Unfortunately, that investment also disappeared.Was that when you decided to establish your own farm?After losing money twice, I concluded that if farming was going to succeed, I needed to own and supervise the operation directly.I leased about three hectares of land along the airport road in Uyo.The land was almost virgin forest. We cleared everything.We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. It should have, but it didn’t. Instead, I thought perhaps I had simply trusted the wrong person.Then another opportunity came. One of my former trainees, a civil servant whom I had trained free of charge during media capacity-building sessions for Akwa Ibom information officers, approached me with another farming proposal.Because I knew the person and believed there was already a relationship of trust, I supported the project financially. Unfortunately, that investment also disappeared.Was that when you decided to establish your own farm?After losing money twice, I concluded that if farming was going to succeed, I needed to own and supervise the operation directly.I leased about three hectares of land along the airport road in Uyo.The land was almost virgin forest. We cleared everything.We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Then another opportunity came. One of my former trainees, a civil servant whom I had trained free of charge during media capacity-building sessions for Akwa Ibom information officers, approached me with another farming proposal.Because I knew the person and believed there was already a relationship of trust, I supported the project financially. Unfortunately, that investment also disappeared.Was that when you decided to establish your own farm?After losing money twice, I concluded that if farming was going to succeed, I needed to own and supervise the operation directly.I leased about three hectares of land along the airport road in Uyo.The land was almost virgin forest. We cleared everything.We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Because I knew the person and believed there was already a relationship of trust, I supported the project financially. Unfortunately, that investment also disappeared.Was that when you decided to establish your own farm?After losing money twice, I concluded that if farming was going to succeed, I needed to own and supervise the operation directly.I leased about three hectares of land along the airport road in Uyo.The land was almost virgin forest. We cleared everything.We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Was that when you decided to establish your own farm?After losing money twice, I concluded that if farming was going to succeed, I needed to own and supervise the operation directly.I leased about three hectares of land along the airport road in Uyo.The land was almost virgin forest. We cleared everything.We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. After losing money twice, I concluded that if farming was going to succeed, I needed to own and supervise the operation directly.I leased about three hectares of land along the airport road in Uyo.The land was almost virgin forest. We cleared everything.We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. I leased about three hectares of land along the airport road in Uyo.The land was almost virgin forest. We cleared everything.We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. The land was almost virgin forest. We cleared everything.We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. We hired tractors from the Ministry of Agriculture to prepare the land. There was land clearing, harrowing, ridging and bed preparation. We drilled a borehole.We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. We installed a sophisticated irrigation system powered by both solar energy and generators.Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Every necessary infrastructure was put in place before planting started. By the time we were done, I had invested more than N30m.You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. You also hired professionals to manage the project?Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Yes. That was another decision I believed would guarantee success. The consultant I hired presented what appeared to be an excellent business proposal.He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. He explained every stage professionally. He spoke confidently. His presentation impressed not only me but also some of my friends who reviewed the proposal.Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Everything suggested I was dealing with someone who understood modern commercial agriculture. So I employed him and assembled a management team. We started with tomatoes.How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. How ambitious was the project?Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Very ambitious. We transplanted over 35,000 tomato seedlings. Everything looked promising. The seedlings responded beautifully.Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Within days, the farm became lush and healthy.When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. When did things begin to go wrong?About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. About two weeks after transplanting, fertiliser had to be applied.The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. The consultant recommended urea. I bought several bags because of the size of the farm.To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. To be fair to him, he demonstrated the correct quantity each tomato stand should receive.The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. The problem came afterwards. He failed to supervise the workers during the actual application.Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Around that period, I accidentally inhaled one of the pesticides used on the farm.I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. I became seriously ill and had to spend several days receiving treatment.While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. While I was away, the workers applied excessive quantities of fertiliser to thousands of tomato plants.Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Nobody monitored them, nobody corrected the mistake, and nobody informed me.How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. How did you eventually discover what had happened?It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. It was the security guard. On the third day of my illness, the security guard called and pleaded with me to return immediately because something terrible had happened.When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. When I arrived, I almost collapsed. More than half of the tomato plants had been burnt.I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. I asked what had happened. They admitted the fertiliser had been wrongly applied.The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. The consultant kept assuring me the tomatoes would recover.So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. So you gave up?At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. At that point, I refused to give up because I had already invested over N30m. Walking away was not an option. Although we had lost more than 60 per cent of the tomato plants, I believed we could still recover something from what remained. Unfortunately, another mistake occurred.We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. We had weeds growing on parts of the farm, so herbicide was sprayed to control them. After applying the herbicide, the farm manager and consultant failed to ensure that the knapsack sprayers used for the herbicide were thoroughly washed before being used again.Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Instead, the same equipment was immediately used to spray nutrients on the surviving tomato plants.That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. That single act contaminated the crops. The remaining healthy tomato plants started dying.Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Out of the more than 35,000 tomato seedlings we planted, fewer than 3,000 survived.At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. At harvest, we realised less than N1m had come in. It was heartbreaking.What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. What went through your mind after suffering such enormous losses?I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. I felt betrayed. The painful thing wasn’t only the money. It was the fact that the losses were avoidable.I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. I had employed professionals because I believed they understood modern commercial farming better than I did.Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Instead, careless mistakes destroyed almost everything.After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. After that experience, I dismissed the consultant and the entire management team.I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. I decided that if I was going to continue farming, I had to become a student of agriculture myself.Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Did things improve after that?That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. That was actually the turning point. We reorganised the farm. We planted pepper first. The pepper was doing very well.After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. After that, we cultivated about one and a half hectares of okra. Again, everything looked promising. Then we planted cucumbers on about one hectare.The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. The cucumbers germinated beautifully. The plants flowered, and fruits had started appearing.We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. We also planted hybrid plantains. At that point, I became optimistic again. I felt we had finally overcome the earlier setbacks.Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Then came another setback. A much bigger one: the repeated invasion of my farm by suspected herders.Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Before we even started cultivation, I already knew cattle movement could become a challenge because herders frequently passed through that axis.To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. To protect the investment, I took preventive measures. I wrote to the police and requested security.Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Since fencing three hectares with concrete walls was beyond my financial capacity, we installed two layers of barbed wire around the entire farm.We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. We mounted strong bamboo poles reinforced with concrete.We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. We genuinely believed those measures would discourage cattle from entering.Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Unfortunately, they didn’t.Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Tell us about the first invasion.It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. It happened on January 8, 2026. I was on the farm that day. One of my supervisors suddenly shouted for help.When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. When I rushed over, I saw between 30 and 40 cattle inside the farm.They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. They were eating the hybrid plantains we had planted. They also trampled our pepper fields.The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. The drip irrigation system lying on the ground had been destroyed.I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. I confronted the herder and asked why he had brought cattle onto someone’s farm.He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. He ignored me completely.I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. I picked up a cutlass, not to attack him, but simply to chase the cattle out before they destroyed everything.What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. What happened next?Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Something I never imagined. The young herder suddenly produced his own cutlass.I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. I honestly don’t know where he had kept it. One moment, his hands were empty.The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. The next moment, he had drawn a cutlass. Then he started chanting what appeared to be incantations.Related NewsFirm seeks greater investment in Africa’s agricultural value chainsFoundation trains 28 seed producers, distributes agro-inputs to boost farmingSubsidised imports threaten Nigeria’s agricultural growth – FGHe threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. He threw sand into the air and began advancing towards me.At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. At that moment, I realised the situation had become life-threatening.Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Instinctively, I also threw sand because I didn’t understand what exactly he was doing.I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. I stood my ground. Fortunately, people nearby witnessed everything.They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. They started shouting at him, asking why he would attack the owner of the farm after illegally bringing cattle onto someone’s property.That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. That distraction allowed him to retreat. He disappeared into the herd.Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Were you able to identify him afterwards?Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Fortunately, one of my friends was outside the farm. He had been recording the events on his phone. As the herder fled, he captured him on video.That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. That video later became important evidence. Immediately after the incident, I reported the matter to the police division closest to the farm.The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. The Divisional Police Officer deployed officers to search for the suspect.Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Unfortunately, they couldn’t find him.Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Did you receive adequate support from security agencies after?That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. That was one of my biggest disappointments. After the attack, I expected stronger action.When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. When nothing happened, I personally wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. I met him and narrated everything. To his credit, he acted immediately.He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. He invited the state task force responsible for enforcing the anti-open grazing law.He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. He also directed senior police officers from the Quick Response Unit to visit my farm.They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. They inspected the damage. Everybody saw what had happened.But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. But shortly afterwards, the herders returned.How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. How many times was your farm invaded altogether?Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Six times. The first time was when I confronted the herder.The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. The second time, they came again, but we managed to chase them away before much damage was done.About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. About a week later, they returned for the third time. Again, they fled after we raised the alarm. The fourth invasion caused fresh destruction before they escaped.The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. The fifth time, our security personnel and people nearby succeeded in driving them away.But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. But the sixth invasion was the worst. It happened at night. They remained on the farm until early morning.By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. By the time people discovered what was happening, the destruction had already been done.How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. How extensive was the damage?It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. It was almost total destruction. They ate virtually all the cucumbers, uprooted the plantains, trampled the okra fields, and damaged every irrigation pipe in the cucumber field.Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Months of work disappeared almost overnight.It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. It felt like someone had deliberately set out to destroy everything we had built.After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. After six invasions, did the authorities eventually arrest anyone?After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. After the sixth invasion and the public outcry that followed, the anti-open grazing task force and the police intensified their investigations.Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Eventually, one of the suspected herders, Abdullahi Yusuf, was arrested.What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. What surprised me was what happened after his arrest. While in police custody, he allegedly attempted to escape.During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. During the process, he reportedly produced a dagger hidden inside his clothing and stabbed a police officer.The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. The officer sustained injuries before other policemen overpowered him. He was eventually shot in the leg, treated and later charged in court.Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Did his arrest give you confidence that justice would eventually be served?I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. I believed the legal process would finally send a strong message that destroying farmers’ livelihoods would no longer be tolerated.But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. But as proceedings continued, my optimism began to fade. One of my frustrations was that I was hardly informed about developments in the case.Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Several adjournments took place without my knowledge. I became worried because I understood the implications: if the complainant repeatedly failed to appear, it could affect the progress of the case.That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. That was why I started mounting pressure on the prosecutor to keep me informed.You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. You have also accused a magistrate of denying you access to court. What exactly happened?When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. When I eventually learnt that the matter had been listed for hearing, I mobilised journalists to cover the proceedings because this was the first major prosecution under Akwa Ibom’s anti-open grazing law.When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. When we got to court, officials insisted that journalists could not enter unless they produced letters of introduction from their media organisations.Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Many of them already had valid identity cards, but they were still prevented from entering. Even I, the complainant, was stopped.When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. When I eventually entered the courtroom, the magistrate had not yet taken his seat.Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Moments later, after the court commenced, a court official whispered something to him.The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. The atmosphere changed immediately. He ordered one journalist out of the courtroom.Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Then he turned to me. I stood up respectfully and introduced myself as the complainant.Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Before I could complete my introduction, he ordered that I should also be removed from the courtroom.I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. I repeatedly asked why, but I received no explanation. Police officers escorted me out.I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. I found that deeply humiliating because I was the victim seeking justice.How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. How did you respond?I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. I addressed a press conference immediately afterwards. I also submitted petitions to the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Commissioner for Justice.Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Eventually, when the matter came up again, the magistrate recused himself. I welcomed that decision because I believed it would allow the matter to proceed without unnecessary distractions.Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Even after the court proceedings began, you said your farm was attacked again.Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Barely a week after the magistrate stepped aside, suspected herders returned once more.They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. They destroyed the irrigation system we had painstakingly reinstalled.They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. They uprooted the remaining hybrid plantains and also destroyed young tomato seedlings we had recently transplanted.It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. It felt like a deliberate message that they could return whenever they wanted.Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Following that incident, the Commissioner of Police again sent officers to inspect the farm.The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. The Chairman of the Anti-Open Grazing Task Force also visited, alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Despite everything that has happened, do you still have confidence in Nigeria’s justice system?Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Yes, I do. I still believe in the judiciary. No institution is perfect.I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. I have benefited from judicial decisions before, and I believe the courts remain the last hope of ordinary citizens.You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. You have repeatedly said your struggle goes beyond your own farm. Why?Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Across Akwa Ibom, countless smallholder farmers wake up to discover that months of labour have been wiped away overnight.Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Many of them are elderly people; some are widows who survive solely on farming.I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. I know of a retired schoolteacher whose entire farm was destroyed. The shock was so severe that she reportedly ended up in hospital. These stories rarely make national headlines.You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. You also alleged that many of the cattle roaming the state are owned by influential individuals. What is the basis for that claim?That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. That is what many people in the affected communities have consistently told me.The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. The herders themselves have made similar claims during conversations.There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. There is a widespread belief that many of the cattle belong to highly influential individuals.Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Some are said to be politicians; others are believed to be retired senior military officers and other members of the elite.Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Some people may ask why you have refused to abandon farming after losing so much money.Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Leaving would mean surrendering. This is my home. I was born here. My parents were buried here. One day, I too will be buried here.Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Why should I abandon my land because criminals choose to intimidate farmers? Agriculture remains one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities.Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Are you afraid for your personal safety?I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. I would be dishonest if I said I have no concerns. Sometimes unfamiliar people come around my farm.They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. They observe what is happening and leave. Given everything that has happened, one naturally becomes cautious.That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. That is why I have publicly stated that if anything happens to me, those who repeatedly invaded my farm, and those behind them, should be thoroughly investigated.What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. What message do you want the government to take from your experience?The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. The government must understand that this issue extends far beyond a single farmer.Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Food security cannot be achieved when farmers are constantly looking over their shoulders.Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Nigeria cannot claim to encourage commercial agriculture while those investing millions of naira remain vulnerable to repeated attacks.Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution. Existing laws against open grazing must be enforced without fear or favour. Security agencies should respond promptly to reports from farmers. Those who destroy farms must face prosecution.