Benue State Commissioner of Agriculture, James Anbua, has said that snake farming was alien to the Benue people and culture.
According to him, snakes are culturally identified with evil.
Speaking with newsmen on Monday, Anbua explained that Benue State, as
the food basket of the nation, has its traditional crops and animal
farming where crops and animals such as grass cutters, rabbits,
traditional cattle, fish and other animals are reared.
“There are no snake farms in Benue but if there is any, it is alien
to the Benue culture. I don’t know anybody who rears snakes in Benue.
Anybody that is known for rearing snakes is something that can be
described as evil. Therefore, nobody can rear or think of having snake
farm in Benue.
“The governor of Benue has no snake farm. He (the Governor) rears
snails, grass cutters, rabbits, cattle and other animals which are
properly ranched. The farm is very close by and anybody can go there to
verify if there is any snake farm there.”
The Agriculture Commissioner said that although he was aware that
some tribes in Nigeria eat snakes, snake farming does not have any
social or economic benefit to the Benue people since no tribe in the
state either eats the reptile.
He continued, “Although I know that some people in other cultures in
Nigeria eat snakes, Benue people don’t eat snakes and so, no Benue
person would venture into such business of rearing snakes.”
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