Hippos’ Attacks: Dry season farmers nightmare in Gombe communities
CHIMA AZUBUIKE, writes about the losses of Difa community in Yalmatu Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State, as farmers decry loss of millions yearly to farmland invasions by hippopotamuses.
57-year-old farmer, Timothy Mamman-Gawas, with five children engages in wet and dry season farming in Difa community. He disclosed that hippopotamus destruction activities began since 1999, stressing that out of 150 bags of rice he expected from his farm that year, he managed to get only three bags of rice following its invasion.
Hippopotamuses also known as River Horse in Greek, are herbivores semi-aquatic mammal found in sub-saharan Africa.
Our correspondent reports that its attacks become most endemic during dry season which begins between November to March; following the drying of grasses, crops become alternative unlike wet season where it has multiplicity of grasses to feed on.
Britannica describes Hippopotamus as having a bulky body on stumpy legs, an enormous head, a short tail, and four toes on each foot. Each toe has a nail-like hoof. Males are usually 3.5 metres (11.5 feet) long, stand 1.5 metres (5 feet) tall, and weigh 3,200 kg (3.5 tons).
It physical attribute allows it to eat staple crops from rice, maize, water melon and to use it body mass to sweep the farmlands. It could destroy hectares of land with crops by using it rolling itself from different points.
When PERISCOPE NIGERIA visited Difa community, we observed that the fear of hippos has left many of the farmers frustrated in carrying out their activities being unsure of what havoc the rampaging animals could have in stock. They leave their homes with high hopes but unsure of realising them because of the ferocious ways hippopotamuses have been disrupting their activities.
According to Mamman-Gawas, the hippopotamuses were two that migrated from Kiri Dam in Shelleng Local Government Area of Adamawa State, disclosing that currently the water accounts for over 50 other hippopotamuses terrorising farmers especially dry season farmers.
He said, “I am the first farmer that experienced the hippopotamus attack in this region since 1999 and 2000. They migrated from Kiri Dam in Shelleng LGA of Adamawa State in the North-East of Nigeria.”
Difa community is agrarian but lacks basic infrastructural development. It takes about 15 minutes on motorcycle to the area as there is no operational taxi from Zambukk which roughly takes about 35 minutes from Gombe metropolis.
Besides, it was discovered that a portion of the river had been turned into a dam, which is used for generation of 40 megawatts of hydroelectric project. Despite this laudable initiative the area stays days, weeks without regular power supply.
Mamman-Gawas, decried that not much has been done by previous administrations to tackle the dangers posed by the hippopotamuses to both man and the crops, adding that it brought him untold hardship as he had to sell his property to recover from he debt.
“That was the year that the hippopotamus invaded this area, Abubakar Hashidu, was the Executive Governor of Gombe State. we reported the case to the Ministry of Agriculture from there they forwarded the case to the ministry of resources, the ministry sent about two to three hunters in order to prevent them from invading our farms, that year we couldn’t harvest anything, I was expecting over 150 bags of rice but it didn’t happen because of the hippopotamus I could only harvest three bags.
“We even recorded a video of it, the hippopotamus were just two as at that year but now they are above 50, in 2020 I planted rice and spent four months awake preventing them from invading my farm then I was able to get only 54 bags of rice, farmers that refused to stay there were unable to harvest a bag of rice, they invaded our farms in group, some will come by in a group of eight, some 12, like that and the attacks kept reoccurring
“I liquidated all my assets because of the incidence that’s why I have no other option than to go and be the gate watcher of my farm, I made a hut in the farm, two of us stayed on the farm,” he decried.
Mamman-Gawas, recalled an experience where the destruction by hippopotamuses were reported to the then Governor, now senator representing Gombe North Ibrahim Dankwambo, but he wondered what business man should have with the animals instead of yielding solutions.
“When the case was reported to Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, he said the water belongs to the hippopotamus and he refused to do anything about the report that we the farmers should forget about it, forgetting that the water helps in boosting food security in the community and not only that it provides electricity, is used for irrigation and also serves as drinking water,” Mamman-Gawas added.
While urging for urgent attention Mamman-Gawas, tasked for public private partnership in ensuring security of crops and farmers adding that “Because most at times if we report, the government does nothing about it, except if others from outside will come and do something about it we are in support because from Difa down to Nafada people use this same water to farm.
“People (farmers) are willing to do this dry season farming but because of the hippopotamus attacks they get discouraged.”
Tales of losses, fear of the unknown
Abubakar Dauda, Chairman of Dry Season Farmers who spoke on behalf of the Galadima of Difa, Mahdi Turaki, narrated that the community and its 22 villages have suffered from hippopotamuses attack.
Turaki mentioned some of the villages to include Jamare, Walam, Jauro Aminu, Jauro Kado, Garin Bara, Garin Kalagari, Garkulun, Wuro Ibah, Wailare, Gulamari, Tudun Wada, Jauro Kudi, Ngude, etc.
He disclosed that most farmers operated majorly with credit facilities, from Anchor borrower credit scheme of the Federal Government, FADAMA II and FADAMA III, adding that many farmers after counting losses are not able to meet up with the obligation of the loans.
Turaki said, “We have challenges of hippopotamus, farmers take loan from Anchor borrower, FADAMA II and FADAMA III to get generators, fertilisers, and seeds. After collecting everything on credit the hippopotamus will invade the farms and destroy plantations. Farmers usually find it difficult to pay back because of the loss.”
While urging the state government to facilitate support for farmers, Turaki added that authorities should also employ guards to ensure the protection of crops especially during dry season.
“Farmers need assistance from the government by sending or employing people to look after our farms. Secondly, we don’t have fertilisers if the government will assist us in giving us loan either money or fertilisers after harvesting we refund it to them,” Turaki said.
Speaking on the financial burden of the attacks on farmers, Turaki added, “Farmers usually loss 15 to 20 million as farmers every year. I have financial challenges in my house because of the economic situation, we don’t have maize, rice and many orders, I keep bags of rice and maize before but now I measure food from market for my family.”
Turaki added, “The hippopotamus comes from November to March when dry season is about to start, for now they will not come out because there’s enough grasses for them to eat, but during dry season they all come out and eat our plants.”
Also, 43-year-old Mahdi Sani, with two wives and eight children, said he is a dry season farmer. Recounting his ordeal he noted that Hippopotamuses have caused farmers losses.
Narrating his ordeal as a farmer, in the area, Sani said, “I am a dry season farmer like my brother said earlier we are facing hippopotamus attacks. Hippopotamuses attack us by eating our crops on the farm, and if one makes an attempt to chase them they will become violent and try to kill the person in the farm.I got more than 200 bag of rice last two years, last year I got only 10 bags because the hippopotamus invaded my farm and ate my rice, so is a great loss for me and my family, I lost over 190 bags.”
Not only me but all the farmers are facing the same challenge. We are not comfortable leaving our families to watch over our farms days and nights and is the only source of income we are having here.
Sani called on government to step in to stop the reoccurring challenge, adding that “We want the government to intervene by controlling and preventing the hippopotamus from entering our farms to eat our crops. The government should provide gate watchers (forest guards) for the animals like those working with forestry department and also provide loan for us in terms fertilisers or money because we are always at loss due to the attacks.”
He enumerated their contributions to ensuring that they harvest some quantities of crops by guarding their expanse of land to prevent its destruction, “We sacrifice to prevent them from invading our farms and we stay there 24/7 because we don’t have money to pay others for the job. so we have to be the ones preventing them from invading and destroying our crops, if the government can provide a comfortable salary for those that are sacrificing at N50,000 to N60,000. it will go a long way for them and their families,” he added.
Sani advised government to relocate the mammals from its present location saying, “If there’s a way the government can to take all of them away from here they should also do it please. The government should employ as many as possible gate watchers and be the one responsible for their payments because we cant afford to pay them.”
Sani who enumerated the advantages of Wet season farming in spite of the attacks by hippopotamus added that the season requires less fertiliser, following the fertility for the soil, “Wet season doesn’t consume too much fertilisers compare to dry season farming because the land a fertile, the loss of dry season is much more than that of wet season,” he added.
59-year-old Elisha Ibrahim, who is retired civil servant with four children, told our correspondent that he hasn’t experienced any attacks ascribing the reason to his season of farming which he confirmed as wet seasoning.
According to him, the attacks on crop have become endemic during dry season farming, adding that he engages in wet seasoning agriculture to mitigate losses resulting from the animals.
“We experience hippopotamus attack during dry season and it affect those that farm on the island.
They come out during dry season to look for grasses to eat at times they came near our settlement here in the village and is very risky to our community,” he said.
Ibrahim pleaded with government to take decisive step towards bringing solutions to the endemic challenges of farmers, adding “We are calling on government to take action on it. We will appreciate because we have Fishermen and children roaming around and is a great risk because if one harassed the animal it will result to someone losing his/her life because is a very dangerous animal.”
“I am also calling on government to create a place were they can keep it in one place without moving to where we are staying to avoid it from attacking people and also to create a recreational centre for them, so people can come and be watching them in order to serve as zoo and it will be secured for us if they are isolated in one place,” Ibrahim added.
Research has it that hippopotamus is going into extinction globally, so the need to conserve them for future use has become rife. However, despite the numerous attacks recorded by most farmers from Malleri, Dadinkowa and Difa farmlands, it illegal to kill them as government over the years frowns at such.
Ministry engages 20 guards, deploys speed boat, drone for surveillance
Visibly scarecrows don’t scare these animals only physical resistance. When contacted Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment Abubakar Hassan, told PERISCOPE NIGERIA, that government was doing alot concerning the perennial attacks, adding that “The hippopotamuses’ are endangered specie and we will not like them to get extinct they are not everywhere and they are rarely found the little we have around this place we will not like them to get extinct and the farmers are all out for them because the animals are destroying their farmlands.”
Hassan disclosed that government has embarked on enlightenment campaign on how best to handle the animals and at the same time how best to secure the farmlands.
He said, “We have acquired large number of motorcycles, we have engaged forest rangers and forest guards to run around the river bank. We have over 20 guards already and you know it a long stretch, we have acquired engine boat unlike before when we used to go to Yobe State to hire boat that will be on surveillance around the area now government under Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya has acquired one through the ACReSAL project. Just about two weeks ago the motorcycles were launched at the Government House. The boat we used to hire used to carry 8 to 9 passengers this one will be able to carry twice the number about 16 on board. The one we used to hire doesn’t have engine we used to paddle it like canoe but this one once you start it the engine runs the boat.
“The guards have been trained on the protection of the animals and crops. They know how to push them back into the water, we have engaged village heads, and community leaders which is a continuous exercise by enlightening them on what to do by reaching us for immediate response.”
Reacting to the N20,000 forest guard charge the Permanent Secretary said farmers would No longer pay, “No, they won’t be charged by the guards it’s the responsibility of government they don’t need to pay any dime to safeguard their farmlands. We have a drone specifically made for that area we usually deploy it from time to time once we receive information regarding the animal quickly deploy the drone to know the location of the hippopotamuses,” he added.
On hippo’s Sanctuary: Gombe to collaborate Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority
Hassan added, “The government is trying; we are yet to do it. However, the governor has made proclamation that we are going to develop hippo’s sanctuary for them so that they will stop coming to farmlands completely. It will boost revenue because people will come to see it in Gombe there are people interested in terrorism they will go and see how they are. As you know, when there is animal and man relationship there will be understanding to know what you need and you don’t need.
“That particular area of the river bank and carnal along that place is under the Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority. so the state government has a limit on how it can further operate even though it’s in Gombe State, the Authority also has a limit in it scope. So because of this we have had series of engagement which is still going on between Gombe State Government and Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority so that we can establish the colony with the collaboration of the Authority.”
Government reacts
The Director-General Press Affairs Gombe Government House, Ismaila Misilli, said the Muhammadu Yahaya’s administration is conducting assessment on the viability and sustainability of constructing a hippo’s colony.
Ismaila said, “On the update on Governor Inuwa’s visionary plan to establish a hippo colony in Gombe State. It’s important to note that the initiative was conceived by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya to stem the perennial crop destruction by hippopotamuses in Dadinkowa.
“This initiative is still in its planning stages. The Government is conducting thorough research and assessments to ensure the viability and sustainability of the project. The partnership with Lynne Baker, a recognised US-based wildlife conservationist is to bring expertise and credibility to the endeavour.”
While disclosing the place of the communities, in birthing such initiative Misilli noted that government would ensure that it aligns with their interests and environment adding that, “We also understand the importance of involving local communities, stakeholders, and experts to ensure that all perspectives are considered and that the project aligns with the best interests of both the environment and the people.”
He lamented the negative impact of hippopotamus to crops especially food security, stressing that the colony once initiated would forestall destruction of farmlands.
“The Government recognises the significant negative impact of crop destruction by hippos around that axis on local communities and agricultural productivity. It was with this in mind that His Excellency sought for partnership to explore the establishment of the hippo colony.
“The primary objective of the partnership is to mitigate crop destruction by the wild animals while contributing to the economic growth of the state through tourism attraction. Through the hippo colony, Governor Inuwa aims to create a balanced ecosystem that minimises human-wildlife conflicts by protecting the endangered species and also protecting the people from the dreaded animals which are known for destroying farm crops and hindering fishing activities within the area,” Misilli added.
