Bandit attacks threatening farming in Kaduna communities

Many farming communities in Kaduna State are being forced to abandon their farms over attacks by bandits in the area. Our correspondents report that two farmers were reported to have been killed on June 2, 2020 by unknown gunmen in their farms in Bakali village, Giwa Local Government Area of the state when they went […]

Many farming communities in Kaduna State are being forced to abandon their farms over attacks by bandits in the area.

Our correspondents report that two farmers were reported to have been killed on June 2, 2020 by unknown gunmen in their farms in Bakali village, Giwa Local Government Area of the state when they went to clear the area.

A farmer in the area, Sani Bakali, said: “We have had to abandon our farms because we are being killed daily. The bandits just storm the farms, kill people on sight and leave.

“The recent attack happened on June 2, around 11am when farmers had gone to clear their farms. The bandits attacked and killed two of them. Now our farms are there, but we cannot go to the area for fear of being killed by these bandits,” he said.

He recalled that a week before the recent attack, bandits had attacked a community close by and injured about seven people.

He said the community had reported the incidences to the Galadimawa Police Outpost as well as soldiers in the area, and called on the government to come to their aid as their only means of survival is being taken away from them.

Also, Stephen Kufana, a community leader and farmer in Kufana, said most farmers could not go to the farm simply because of frequent attacks in their communities.

He listed the communities  that cannot go to their farms as Kalla, Igazau, Ikisi, Bakin Kogi, kese, Makyali, Gonar Rogo, Unguwar Ganu, Unguwar Murdi and Dutsen Gora.

He said houses and farm produce in those communities have been completely destroyed. “We are now already in rainy season but no farmer around these villages has attempted to go to his farm.”

Asked if he will farm this year, he said, “It will be very difficult due to the fear of armed groups coming to attack me. Most times we go to farm in groups and we can only spend about an hour due to fear.

“We are afraid of going to the farm which is why we are disturbed about what will happen to us if we don’t farm this year”.

He called  on the government to find a lasting solution to the challenge in the area.

‎Another farmer, Malam Abubakar Kasuwar Magani, said Hausa communities around Kasuwar Magani have all abandoned their farms.

“To tell you the truth, most of our farms are located in the bush outside Kasuwar Magani which is why we are a bit afraid to visit those farms because we have to pass through communities that are not ours,” he said.

He explained that most of the attacks happen in the bush and nobody wants to take the risk of going to the farm since they are not certain when the attackers will strike.

Meanwhile Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna  State,on Monday, assured farmers that the government would not allow bandits to disrupt farming activities anywhere in the state.

The  governor gave the assurance during the roll-out of seed distribution for farmers for the 2020 planting season by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, in Kaduna.

“We are going to continue to make our farms safe for our people,” he said, adding that the government would wipe out the bandits to ensure the security of all citizens.

“We won’t talk to them; we are going to wipe them out by the grace of God through the combined operations of the Nigerian Air Force, Army and Police”, The governor said.

He particularly assured the people of Igabi, Giwa, Birnin Gwari, Kajuru and Chuku local government areas, where the bandits operate most, that the government would  ensure their protection and restoration of normalcy.

”We will stop the banditry or they will die; we will kill them all and no apology for doing that,” he added.