Tension as Jeddo community leaders chase away farmers over controversial levy

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6 years ago

A fish farmer

TENSION is brewing in Jeddo, Okpe Local Government Area in Delta State following the alleged invasion and chasing away of farmers as well as security guards from their fish farms by persons who purportedly acted on the authority of Jeddo Community leaders.

The invaders, including vigilante members, allegedly stormed the farms at about 5:00 a.m on Friday and ordered the farmers to vacate their fish farms over refusal to pay a newly introduced N20,000.00 annual levy imposed on each of the over 50 farmers by the Executive Chairman/Umu-Amua of Jeddo Community, Comrade Solomon Bayagbon.

The affected farmers, most of whom are non-indigenes of Jeddo, alleged that indigenes of Okpe town were given a waiver and efforts to make the community leaders to allow them (as a group) collectively pay a lesser amount, fell on deaf ears.

The farmers, who complained of constant theft of their produce, averred that it was the similar imposition of obnoxious levies that led to the near death of fish farms in Ekpan, Uvwie Local Government Area, also in Delta State.

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Comrade Bayagbon, in a letter earlier addressed to the Jeddo Fish Farmers, threatened that failure by the farmers to comply with the payment would result in the stoppage of fish ponds.

“Fish pond/farm business will be stopped without any compunction. Be warned please,” the notice declared.

The warning by Comrade Bayagbon directed the farmers to pay the annual levy to a United Bank of Africa, UBA, Account with “Account Name: Jeddo Community, Account Number: 2118827423”, before 20th March 2019.

One of the farmers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, appealed to the Orodje of Okpe, His Majesty, Orhue 1, Major General Felix Mujakperuo (Rtd) to wade into the issue as the community leadership, he initially directed them to, have only fueled the situation.

It was gathered that Mr Bayagbon had only recently, also directed women, who protested prolonged lack of electricity in Jeddo, to pay a fine on the pretext that his permission was not sought before embarking on the peaceful protest.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Charles Aniagwu could not be reached for comment over the brewing communal crisis.