Bandits permit Kaduna farmers to resume farming after receiving N6.2m, 4 bags of rice
Bandits permit Kaduna farmers to resume farming after receiving N6.2m, 4 bags of rice
Bandits have given permission to rural farmers in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State to resume their farming activities after collecting a ransom of N6.2 million and four bags of rice from them.
City & Crime reported that the bandits, on May 21, 2024, chased away farmers from their farms in Unguwar Jibo and Nasarawa-Azzara communities, demanding N100,000 from each farmer to allow them to continue farming.
Before accepting the N6.2 million, the bandits rejected an initial payment of N725,000, deeming it too small, and insisted that the farmers raise a larger amount.
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A farmer from the community, who spoke to City & Crime via telephone on Tuesday, explained: “Last week, we managed to raise N725,000 for the bandits, but they rejected it, saying it was too meager. We struggled to raise the funds and eventually came up with N6.2 million and four bags of rice.”
The farmer added that the bandits collected the ransom in neighboring Katari village and gave the farmers the go-ahead to continue cultivating their farmlands.
This incident highlights the dire situation faced by farmers in the region, who are forced to pay exorbitant sums to criminal elements to pursue their livelihood.