We’re at the mercy of kidnappers – Plateau rice farmers

Rice farmers in Plateau State, especially those on the boundary with Taraba State, are at the mercy of kidnappers, Daily Trust Saturday learnt. Although the recent record of kidnapping in the area is not restricted to rice farmers, they are the most affected. Our correspondent learnt that rice farming thrives in Wase, Shendam, Qua’anpan, Latantang […]

Rice farmers in Plateau State, especially those on the boundary with Taraba State, are at the mercy of kidnappers, Daily Trust Saturday learnt. Although the recent record of kidnapping in the area is not restricted to rice farmers, they are the most affected.

Our correspondent learnt that rice farming thrives in Wase, Shendam, Qua’anpan, Latantang South and North, as well as Mikang local government areas, but unfortunately, the rate of kidnapping there has become alarming. The situation has also posed a serious threat to other businesses in the area.

At Kuka, a community in Shendam Local Government Area, which shares border with the southern part of Taraba State, the situation is said to be horrible.

Alhaji Ibrahim Kano and Alhaji Haruna Umar, residents of Yelwa town, were kidnapped on December 13, 2019 in their farms located at Isimi village.

Both relatives were said to have been taken away by a group of 10 armed men at 1am to a thick bush far from their farmland.

Narrating their ordeal, Kano said, “They took us to the bush and insisted we would pay N50million as ransom to regain freedom. I pleaded that they should allow us pay N500, 000 but they refused. The kidnappers later demanded N10m, threatening to kill us if we didn’t pay. Their threat forced us to agree on N2.5m. After that, we agreed on a place and time to hand over the ransom to them.”

Kano said that, surprisingly, the place where the money was paid to the kidnappers was not up to a kilometer away from a military checkpoint, located in Sarkim Kudu town of Ibi Local Government Area of Taraba State.

Also speaking, Murtala Yusuf, a rice farmer and the chairman of Yelwa Rice Millers Association of Nigeria (YRMAN), described the situation as ungodly. He appealed for government’s intervention.

Yusuf alleged that the kidnappers have informants in communities, who have knowledge of those who invested heavily in rice farming.

Albert Nkwap, the chairman of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RFMAN) in

Shendam Local Government Area, also told our correspondent that the situation was worrisome, and called on government to quickly intervene.

“The increasing rate of kidnapping in these places is sending great fears to rice farmers and residents of the area. It is unfortunate because if there is no farming there will be hunger in the country. However, I urge people to be patient as the calamity will not last forever.”

In Wase Local Government Area, another rice farmer, Abdullahi Wase, told our correspondent that Bangalala, Zira, Aduwa and Kampani communities were the most hit in kidnapping activities.

Apart from rice farmers, Fatima Ladan, a roadside food seller narrated how kidnappers invaded her compound in Kuka village at midnight on September 27 and took her away.

According to her, at first the kidnappers demanded N2m from her brother, Sani Ladan before she would be released, saying the fact that he just returned from pilgrimage was an indication that he had enough money to secure the release of his sister. After much negotiation, they agreed to collect N200,000 as ransom.

Safiyanu Kwatoe. a serving councillor representing Kuka ward in Shedam Local  Government Area, was also kidnapped and forced to pay N2m.

“The kidnappers said I was building a house and a mosque, and that I had just returned from Saudi Arabia, where I performed Hajj, which, according to them, was an indication that I was rich. Eventually, I was released after paying N2m,” Kwatoe said.

In Qua’anpan Local Government, kidnapping has added to the incessant robbery operations in the area. Businessmen and rice farmers are targets of attacks. Sources told our correspondent that on different occasions, kidnappers would place calls to businessmen, instructing them to send money to them or face dire consequences. As a result of such threats, many people relocated to other states across the country.

Reacting to the spate of kidnapping in Plateau recently, Governor Simon Bako Lalong said anybody caught would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

When contacted, the commissioner of police, Plateau State command, Isaac

Akinmoyede, said they were doing everything possible to bring the perpetrators of such crime to book.

“There is no crime-free society. We enjoin citizens to provide the command with vital information that would help crack down the perpetrators of this crime,” Akinmoyede