How Soldiers Guarding Olam Rice Farm Allegedly Beat Housewife To Death

Rabiu Omaku

Following the rising waves of complaints by people of the host community of Olam rice farm, a Singaporean rice company situated in the Rukubi community of Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State has again complaints of a housewife beaten to death by soldiers guarding the largest rice farm in Africa.

A source and leader of an Association who did not want his name on print averred that they are mobilizing family members for a showdown over the unwholesome humiliation and death of a woman.

It was gathered that the woman was scavenging for rice in the already harvested rice farm when a team of soldiers guarding the farm pounced on her, beat her to a stupor in the process died

In a telephone conversation, Jona from Ijiwo, An immediate and host community sharing a boundary with the rice farm disclosed that soldiers guarding the farm at times accosted mostly women coming back from their farms, and seized rice in the name of Olam rice.

Adding women without numbers encountered issues like miscarriage after being given the beating of their lives.

“Ill-treatment and humiliation is already an established behavior of the overzealous soldiers attached to the rice farm”.

Inusa, Also in a reaction described the attitude of the Singaporean farmers as barbaric”.

However, The Community Relation Officer of Olam rice farm, Abubakar Ogashuwa when contacted on the phone said already they left Doma Local Government Secretariat.

It was authoritatively reported that three management staff of the company, An expatriate, Dr. Umar Ismaila, who is the Chief Agronomist, and Abubakar Ogashuwa, The Community Relations Officer were at the Local Government Secretariat for an almost one hour marathon meeting on the invitation of the Executive Chairman, Hon Jonathan Okuba.

The Chairman when contacted declined comment on the matter.

The CRO when contacted by a Journalist who was at the Local Government Area Secretariat to confirm the tragic death of the woman.

According to the Community Relations Officer while responding to the calls”.

“I can’t hear you very well, adding that, The network is very poor, He added”.

But in a WhatsApp chat,

Please, we learned that soldiers in Olam Rice Farm killed a woman scavenging for rice in a field where the harvest had taken place for over a month. Ibn Umar NBS, Ibrahim Danjuma Yakubu of Precious F. M and I Rabiu Omaku of Universal Reporters Online will come to Rukubi on Thursday for balancing.

How was your Journey back to Rukubi, We were at the Local Government to inquire from the Local Government Chairman when you people entered.

Though the Chairman refused to comment on that”

And the Community Relations Officer in a text message said thus.

“Good evening, our journey was safe.

You may kindly confirm from the Army, thanks”.

This was the text message forwarded by Abubakar Ogashuwa to Journalists at precisely 8:11 p.m.

While Rabiu Omaku replied to the text message of the Community Relation Officer.

“Thank you for the confirmation sir, Good night”.

The story of Olam rice farm and the host community was a story of lamentation due to the absence of Corporate Social Responsibility by the multi-billion naira investors, the people of the host community expressed disappointment over the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the company and the host community.

Some of the concerned Indigenes of the Community expressed dismay over the absence of common portable drinking water in either Ijiwo or Rukubi or any health facility provided by the company to cushion the effect of air spread of herbicide on the farm which they described as harmful to plants and human beings.

Other basic and social amenities also include a lack of a good road network, a good school constructed by them.Olam Farm, Is a subsidiary of Olam International, hosting one of the world’s largest agricultural conglomerates, Located about 62 Kilometres from Doma, The headquarters of Doma Local Government.

Olam rice farm  signed an MoU in 2012.Olam rice farm, occupying a total land mass of 9,000 hectares of land, The US $90 million investment by Singaporean based foreign investors reputed as Africa’s largest rice farm was officially commissioned by the  then President, Goodluck Jonathan administration.

The worst story of Olam was that majority of those employed are either drivers, junior staff or loaders and off-loaders while other juicy positions goes to people outside Nasarawa State.

Recalling that the people of Rukubi, Abuja-Ogo, Ondori and other neighbouring communities can no longer caught fish as it was gathered that the only source of fresh water fish was diverted into a pond in the middle of the company yard.

Critical stakeholders in the host communities are of the view that Olam rice farm is rather curse to the Ijiwo and Rukubi communities which are yet to see or felt the presence of the company, As insider said whether you want a trailer of rice or five bags , You have to follow the same process, He added.

Only time shall tell.