Outrage as Hunters’ Bush Fires Destroy Yam Barns in C' River
Residents of several agrarian communities in northern Cross River State have expressed outrage following a series of bush fires allegedly set by hunters during hunting expeditions, which have destroyed yam barns and other farm produce in the affected areas.
The incidents, reported in parts of Yala Local Government Area and neighbouring communities in northern Cross River, have left several farmers counting losses as stored yams, rice and plantations were consumed by flames.
Residents said the hunters, mostly youths, often move in groups of five to ten people into forests and nearby bushes after school hours or on market days. Armed with machetes, locally made dane guns and hunting dogs, they reportedly set bushes on fire in an attempt to flush out animals such as rats, snakes and rabbits.
However, the fires are often worsened by dry harmattan winds, causing them to spread rapidly beyond the hunting areas into farms and storage barns.
A resident of Yache community in Yala Local Government Area, John Olopu, said the fires frequently spiral out of control and destroy nearby farm property.
According to him, many farmers store harvested yams and planting seedlings in barns located in distant farm settlements ahead of the rainy season. Once these barns are burnt, the farmers lose both their harvest and planting materials for the next farming season.
In North Ukelle, also within Yala Local Government Area, a group of youths reportedly set part of a forest ablaze on Saturday while hunting rabbits. The fire later spread into a nearby palm and bamboo plantation, destroying the crops.
One of the affected farmers, Udu Ngang, said a similar incident occurred on his palm estate two years ago and destroyed his harvest.
He said that despite repeated warnings to hunters in the area, the youths returned again this year and caused further damage to his plantation.
In Alebo village, another farmer, Odey Adayi, lost the seed yams he had prepared for the coming planting season after his yam barn was burnt in a bush fire.
Members of the community later rallied around him by donating seed yams and other forms of support to help him recover from the loss.
A similar incident occurred in Oloko Ogwope village where a young farmer, Odama Goddy, watched helplessly as his yam barn containing mature yams and preserved seedlings was burnt to ashes.
He described the loss as devastating, noting that a yam barn represents months of labour and a farmer’s hope for the future.
Meanwhile, in Okuku community, a resident identified as Ajepe Sunday said he lost 11 bags of rice when a bush fire allegedly ignited by hunters spread uncontrollably on a market day.
A community elder, Aleje Ejaki, condemned the actions of the youths and questioned how farmers would be compensated for the damages caused.
He also observed that animals such as rats and snakes have already become scarce due to decades of excessive hunting.
Ejaki called on communities to protect one another’s livelihoods, stressing that the destruction of farm produce through reckless bush burning threatens food security and the welfare of farmers in the area.
Efforts to obtain reactions from the hunters involved were unsuccessful, as none of them agreed to speak or accept responsibility for the incidents.
