The Chairman, North East Commodity Association (NECAS), Alhaji Sadiq Umar-Daware has explained how hoodlums took advantage of #EndSARS protests to cart away 110 new tractors, farm inputs and implements from the association’s warehouse in Yola
Speaking during an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, Umar-Daware said the looted tractors belonged to NECAS because it was incorporated to provide mechanisation service, tractor leasing, among other services for farmers.
The chairman who revealed that some of the looted tractors are parked in the garage of some individuals, added that security agencies were yet to respond to complaints about the looting.
“Based on our own findings, they have kept some of the tractors in some people’s garages and when reports were made the response was not favourable,’’ he said.
He also revealed that the hoodlums broke into the main warehouses of the Rice Farmers Association, Maize Farmers Association of Nigeria and other warehouses, destroying documents and looting tonnes of farm produce, inputs and implements.
“They not only took tonnes of produce, but they also made away with the farm inputs for the dry season farming and the offices of Rice Farmers Association, Maize Farmers Association of Nigeria (MFAN) and the NECAS were also looted and vandalised.
“Files for various programmes were destroyed and they made away with various documents,’’ he said.
Alhaji Daware further listed items looted from the NECAS office to include tonnes of rice, beans, maize, sorghum and millets, and computers, tables, chairs, office equipment, water dispenser and cash.
He therefore urged people in Adamawa and its environs to report anyone found in possession of the looted items to NECAS, RIFAN and MFAN officials for recovery and necessary action.
Meanwhile, a number of images circulating on social images suggest that some of the looted tractors have been torn apart and sold as spare parts.
It is worthwhile to note that NECAS is involved in agriculture-related services and human capacity development across the North-East region States of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe.
Since its establishment in 2018, the association has expanded its scope of activities, especially through the Federal Government, CBN’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP), mechanisation drive, partnerships with development agencies.
