Kenema — Farmers in Pendembu in the Upper Bambara chiefdom, Kailahun district has confirmed to Concord Times that farming especially, rice growing in district has been affected seriously by recent activities of bush cows.

Mustapha Aruna Saffa said their plants are destroyed by bush cows on a daily bases, a development if not checked will contribute to hunger in the district.

"The cows destroyed our crops and even chased farmers out of the bush. About two weeks ago they chased some farmers at Sengama village," he said.

Saffa added that they have reported the matter to the police who have mounted serious operations that have left two of the cows dead.

When contacted the commander of the operations supports division Augustine Keili confirmed the incident.

He said two of the cows have been killed by his men in an operation called "jungle run." Keili said the operation was launched to protect the citizens of the district from threat of wild animals.

"We got the report that cows were destroying crops and at the same time attacking farmers. Bush cows are very wild animals that kill human beings," he said.

"We are sure that before the end of the operation most of the cows would have been killed," he said.

He noted that the duty of the police was to secure lives and properties of citizens.