By Abdullahi Tukur
The Kebbi state government, has said that in a swift response had killed thousands of Queala birds devastating rice farmlands in five local government areas in Kebbi state.
The Commissioner for agriculture and food security, Alhaji Shehu Mu,azu said that Kebbi government particularly the ministry of agriculture upon receipt of the movements of the birds immediately activated control mechanism and killed thousand of the birds ravaging farmlands in Birnin Kebbi, Kalgo, Bunza, Gwandu and Argungu through rapid spray of chemicals by trained Agric experts.
He added that efforts are ongoing to include aerial spray to completely annihilate them but the ministry awaits approval from security agencies and aviation for space permission because there are many no fly zones due to security concerns in the state.
” We will continue with the ground operation where humans can reach to kill and chase them away from farmlands in the affected local areas and as well prevent the spread of the birds to yet to be affected farms in the state”.
Muazu warned members of the public against consuming the killed birds saying, chemicals used in killing the birds are harmful to humans too therefore human beings must stay away from the birds.
He stressed that Kebbi state government is committed to protecting farmlands against the migrating birds even as he commiserated with farmers whose farms were devastated before the response as the birds caught everyone unawares.
As part of continuous efforts to contain the bird’s spread, the Commissioner said that the Kebbi state government is working closely with neighbouring states like Sokoto and Zamfara states to stem the scourge, he added.
