Gombe Farmers Keep Vigil as Hippos Destroy Crops

Farmers in Difa Community, Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State, have resorted to staying on their farmlands to guard against increasing hippopotamus attacks that threaten their crops and livelihoods.

A visit by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday revealed makeshift shelters made from guinea corn and sorghum stalks, where farmers have taken residence to protect their farms. Signs of prolonged stays—such as burnt stalks, cooking utensils, and mosquito nets—were evident across the farmlands.

Meanwhile, several hippopotamuses were spotted in the nearby river, briefly surfacing for air before disappearing beneath the water.

Mr. Hassan Abdulateef, a 40-year-old farmer, said he had been living on his farm since planting crops three weeks ago. He lamented that he loses between 10 and 15 bags of crops yearly due to hippo attacks, significantly reducing his income and affecting food security in the region.

Abdulateef disclosed that in 2024 alone, he spent over ₦600,000 hiring youths to guard his 7-hectare farmland from the destructive animals. He explained that he usually harvests almost 80 bags of paddy yearly, which earns him roughly ₦4 million, but after spending on fertilizers and security against hippos, he ends up with around ₦2.5 million.

Hiring security has increased his farming costs by 50%, as he pays each of his five hired guards ₦10,000 weekly.

Mr. Abu Ali, a 52-year-old rice farmer, shared a similar ordeal, stating that he had been guarding his farm every night for the past 60 nights to protect his crops. He described the hippo attacks as devastating, recounting how a single night of sleep nearly cost him his harvest.

Three days ago, he fell asleep at 4 a.m., and before he knew it, a hippo had entered his farm and eaten his rice, which was due for harvest in a few days. His son’s intervention saved him from massive losses.

Ali explained that if not for his son, he would have lost everything. After staying awake for 60 nights, one night of sleep almost destroyed his hard work. Ali, who has farmed for over 25 years, said he paid ₦180,000 to three youths for three months of farm protection.

Other farmers, including Mohammed Kalagar and Idris Ali, expressed similar frustrations. They estimated that the hippopotamus population had grown to about 100, leading to a rise in farm invasions.

Farmers in Malleri (Kwami LGA) and Kupto (Funakaye LGA) also shared distressing experiences, calling for urgent government intervention.

Mr. Inuwa Ahmed, Director of Forestry and Wildlife Management at the Gombe State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, confirmed receiving over 20 complaints about hippo attacks.

He stated that the government, through the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project, was working on establishing a hippopotamus sanctuary to protect the animals while ensuring farmers could cultivate their lands safely.

Ahmed urged farmers not to harm the animals and advised them to avoid planting too close to the riverbank.

The hippopotamus, also known as the “river horse,” is found across sub-Saharan Africa and can weigh up to 8,000 pounds. While essential to the ecosystem, its increasing presence in farmlands is becoming a major threat to food production in Gombe State.