Enough is enough: The native cure for cow & headers invasion exposed

DDM News

A new traditional remedy is being hailed by local farmers as a powerful deterrent against destructive cattle invasions.

Diaspora digital media (DDM) revealed the method which gained viral attention through a widely circulated video, involves the use of dried tobacco leaves.

These leaves are ground into powder and mixed with a substance known locally as Eepo igi obo, a type of tree bark powder.

Dried red pepper, called ata ijosin, is also added to the mix to increase its potency.

The final mixture is then sprinkled across dry dust on farmlands, forming a trap invisible to roaming cattle.

According to several testimonies in the video, any cow that inhales the dust reportedly becomes disoriented or ill, causing entire herds to flee.

Some farmers claim that if even 2,000 cows enter such a field, there would be no remedy for the outcome.

This grassroots innovation is being promoted as a peaceful alternative to violence in dealing with herder-farmer conflicts.

In recent years, clashes between nomadic herders and farmers have escalated, especially in the Middle Belt and southern states of Nigeria.

Cows often stray into cultivated lands, destroying crops and threatening food security in affected communities.

The resulting tension has led to bloody clashes, community displacement, and increased ethnic distrust.

To combat this, various regional security outfits were introduced, including the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) and the Amotekun Corps.

The OPC began in the 1990s as a Yoruba cultural group but evolved into a paramilitary force in response to rising insecurity.

Amotekun, established in 2020 by southwestern governors, was created to tackle banditry, kidnapping, and clashes between herders and farmers.

However, these interventions have not always brought peace.

In some cases, their involvement escalated violence, leading to deaths and the criminalization of farmers trying to defend their lands.

Many rural farmers now feel abandoned by state-backed efforts.

Some complain that calling Amotekun or OPC does little to stop cattle from trampling their crops.

Others allege that law enforcement often sides with herders, especially in politically sensitive zones.

Faced with limited options, local farmers are increasingly turning to indigenous wisdom passed down through generations.

“This isn’t witchcraft. It’s survival,” said a farmer in Ekpoma.

He explained that they no longer wait for police reports or press releases while their livelihoods are destroyed.

The remedy has now become a symbol of silent resistance among local farmers.

Messages about the solution are spreading quickly via WhatsApp, community groups, and agricultural forums.

The viral video has sparked debates about the role of traditional knowledge in modern conflict resolution.

Many believe that reclaiming their lands through ancestral means is safer than relying on inconsistent state protection.

While scientific research is still lacking, the local success stories are difficult to ignore.

For these farmers, this unconventional method may not only protect their crops but also save lives.

As one elder put it, “Enough is enough. We’re protecting our farms with what our ancestors gave us.”

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