Disquiet As Bandits Stop Niger Farmers From Harvesting Crops

Bandits and insurgents have reportedly continued to attack communities in Niger State, denying farmers access to their farms to harvest their crops.

Affected communities told Daily Trust Saturday that crops like maize and beans that are due for harvesting are being wasted on their farms due to incessant kidnappings of owners on their farms.

The chairman of Munya Local Government Area, Najume Abdulamid Aminu Kuchi, recently told Daily Trust during an interview after an Annual Stakeholders Flood Sensitisation and Awareness Organised by North-South Power Company Limited in Minna, that bandits had returned to attack communities in his local government.

He said on August 1, 2023, two farmers were killed while an unspecified number of others were kidnapped in Zazzaga Community, saying that “for some time now, we’ve been having some peace but for the past few months, the attacks have come up again. It’s now a day-by-day occurence. As of August 1, bandits attacked Zazzaga Community; they killed two people and kidnapped some.”

However, on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, Najume said on Tsalle Daya – a Hausa Programme on Minna-based Prestige FM Radio, that the current security situation in his local government was worrisome.

“Honestly Speaking, insecurity in Munya has continued unabated. As the LG Chairman, on behalf of the people of Munya, I want to confirm to you that attacks happen almost every day now.

“They even tax our people to bring their farm produce for settlement, yet they will still come back to attack them. Right now, crops, especially maize, that are due for harvesting are wasting in the farms because farmers cannot access their farms to harvest them. If they go, they get kidnapped.”

While appealing to the state and federal government to take decisive action against the attackers, Najume said “it’s already October; if the dry season comes now when farmers are supposed to harvest most of their crops, what will they do?”

He said bandits have camps in Kazani Community, a border community in Chikun LGA of Kaduna State from where he said they come to attack communities in Munya LGA and go back.

The Council Chairman also said that residents of many communities including Tsohon-Kabula, Mangoro and Zazzaga have all fled their homes, calling for reinforcement of conventional security operatives to support the local vigilantes in the area.

“I have been having sleepless nights because my people do not have peace in their homes. We are doing our best at the local government level but we need more support from the state and federal governments for the sake of Allah to enable our farmers harvest their crops.”

Farmers in Shiroro and Rafi LGA also told our correspondent that attacks had resumed in their communities, denying them access to their farms to harvest crops.

One of the latest attacks was on Tsohon-Kabula, Munya Local Government on September 28, 2023, during which no fewer than 16 farmers, including women and children were kidnapped and one person shot.

A resident of Shiroro who doesn’t want his name mentioned told Daily Trust Saturday that attacks on communities around Pandogari-Allawa axis in Rafi and Shiroro Local Government had also become incessant.

The latest data obtained from the Niger State Emergency Management Agency showed that 152 farmers have been killed while 355 others were kidnapped by bandits in various attacks on communities in Mariga, Paikoro, Rijau, Wushishi, Rafi, Shiroro, Munya, Magama and Mashegu of Niger State between April and September this year.

The document showed that 140 communities were attacked within the period, causing the displacement of 36,071 farmers.

Affected communities told Daily Trust Saturday that crops like maize and beans that are due for harvesting are being wasted on their farms due to incessant kidnappings of owners on their farms.

The chairman of Munya Local Government Area, Najume Abdulamid Aminu Kuchi, recently told Daily Trust during an interview after an Annual Stakeholders Flood Sensitisation and Awareness Organised by North-South Power Company Limited in Minna, that bandits had returned to attack communities in his local government.

He said on August 1, 2023, two farmers were killed while an unspecified number of others were kidnapped in Zazzaga Community, saying that “for some time now, we’ve been having some peace but for the past few months, the attacks have come up again. It’s now a day-by-day occurence. As of August 1, bandits attacked Zazzaga Community; they killed two people and kidnapped some.”

However, on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, Najume said on Tsalle Daya – a Hausa Programme on Minna-based Prestige FM Radio, that the current security situation in his local government was worrisome.

“Honestly Speaking, insecurity in Munya has continued unabated. As the LG Chairman, on behalf of the people of Munya, I want to confirm to you that attacks happen almost every day now.

“They even tax our people to bring their farm produce for settlement, yet they will still come back to attack them. Right now, crops, especially maize, that are due for harvesting are wasting in the farms because farmers cannot access their farms to harvest them. If they go, they get kidnapped.”

While appealing to the state and federal government to take decisive action against the attackers, Najume said “it’s already October; if the dry season comes now when farmers are supposed to harvest most of their crops, what will they do?”

He said bandits have camps in Kazani Community, a border community in Chikun LGA of Kaduna State from where he said they come to attack communities in Munya LGA and go back.

The Council Chairman also said that residents of many communities including Tsohon-Kabula, Mangoro and Zazzaga have all fled their homes, calling for reinforcement of conventional security operatives to support the local vigilantes in the area.

“I have been having sleepless nights because my people do not have peace in their homes. We are doing our best at the local government level but we need more support from the state and federal governments for the sake of Allah to enable our farmers harvest their crops.”

Farmers in Shiroro and Rafi LGA also told our correspondent that attacks had resumed in their communities, denying them access to their farms to harvest crops.

One of the latest attacks was on Tsohon-Kabula, Munya Local Government on September 28, 2023, during which no fewer than 16 farmers, including women and children were kidnapped and one person shot.

A resident of Shiroro who doesn’t want his name mentioned told Daily Trust Saturday that attacks on communities around Pandogari-Allawa axis in Rafi and Shiroro Local Government had also become incessant.

The latest data obtained from the Niger State Emergency Management Agency showed that 152 farmers have been killed while 355 others were kidnapped by bandits in various attacks on communities in Mariga, Paikoro, Rijau, Wushishi, Rafi, Shiroro, Munya, Magama and Mashegu of Niger State between April and September this year.

The document showed that 140 communities were attacked within the period, causing the displacement of 36,071 farmers.

The Director General, Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Garba Salihu, told our correspondent that Rafi LGA topped with 112 deaths and was third with 24 abductees from 28 communities while 17 people were killed and 21 abducted from 11 communities in Rijau LGA.

Other local governments are Mariga with two deaths and 63 abductions during attacks on 6 communities; Paikoro LGA recorded two deaths and 39 abductions from 11 communities; Wushishi LGA recorded three deaths and two abductions during attacks on 21 communities while six people were killed and 18 others kidnaped during attacks on 27 communities in Shiroro LGA within the period.

Similarly, in Rijau LGA, Inana, Idachi, Shambo, Genu, Tungan-Bunu, Darangi, Tungan-Marke, Tungan-Kawo-Rijau, Warari and Dugge were attacked while Babako, Tashan-jirgi, Utere, Ndiga, Kwakwagi, Unguwan-Biri, Akare, Cegi, Alita, Agwa, Girin, Tukunji, Gekun, Cheji, Akare, Yankazhi, Kpakara, Tashan-Jirgi, Dabogi, Agwa and Matajiyan were attacked in Wushishi LGA.

In Rafi LGA, Pandogari, Kusheriki, Maikujeri, Zara, Tungan-Bako, Tungan-Makeri, Madaka, Kawo Ushama, Kwanan-Mariga, Katako, Yakila, Pangu-Gari, Ringa, Sufana, Farin-Kasa, Ogu, Kadaura, Anguwan-Samaila, Masallaci, Hullatai, Anguwan-Jatau, Kambari, Injin-Barde, Ajemi, Gushi, Palale, Jiwawa and Gimi were attacked while in Shiroro LGA, Kwaki, Farin-Dawaki, Ajatayi, Ajayi-Katoro, Bauri-Yala, Gosa, Keto, Sabon-gida, Masuku, Basa, zangoro, Gyaramiya, Bataro-Waziri, Batara-Jatai, Jaramiyya, Magami, Magoga, Beri, Kini-Ashana, Ngawa, Beri-kago,  Madaka., Koki, Sundna, Shakadna, Karibo and Manta.