Bandits Driving Us Away From Our Farms – Plateau Farmers

Farmers in the Kanam local government area of Plateau state have lamented that they could not go to their farms to cultivate crops this year because of the insecurity bedevilling the area.

They also decried persistent attacks by bandits while on the farms, adding that the development has prevented them from accessing their farmlands because they are afraid of being kidnapped in the process.

According to them, farming and animal rearing were their only sources of livelihood, but they are being disrupted due to rampant insecurity in the areas. They said they neither go to the farms nor rear animals because the animals are rustled by the bandits.
More than 15 communities were affected, including farmers in Garga, Dadin Kowa, Gada, Keram, Gyanbahu, Dungur, Wanka, Kukawa, and Shuwaka.

Gambo Musa, a resident of the Garga community, said, “There is no farming this year because we cannot access our farms. We are always afraid of going to the farms. There is no farming for us. We are only expecting rain between August and September. So, it is not possible to cultivate crops and have them mature before the rainy season ends.”

Abdulaziz Adam, a resident of Gyangyen village, said, “There is a problem, honestly. As villagers, we are known for farming and rearing, but these activities are threatened by the insecurity in our community. Bandits are not allowing us to go to the farms. If you go to the farm, you will be kidnapped, and we don’t have the capacity to pay a ransom. That is why we are avoiding our farm. They follow us to the house to kidnap us for ransom. What about if you go too far? Those who go to the farm are more vulnerable .”

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Another farmer in the area, Usman Adamu, also decried that “farming activities have been disrupted due to banditry. Bandits have rustled our cattle. We cannot go to the farms. These are what we rely on, but they have been disrupted.”

The farmers are calling on the government to help them, stressing that hunger will be a problem in the affected communities.

LEADERSHIP reports that bandits have been frequently raiding Kanam and Wase.

Meanwhile, Rainbow Brigadier General Gakji Shipi (rtd), the Special Adviser to Governor Caleb Mutfwang on Security and Coordinator of Operations, said Wase and Kanam were prone to attacks in a recent interview with newsmen in Jos because they share borders with Odare forest, which stretches to Bauchi, Taraba, and Plateau.

According to him, efforts were being made to coordinate operations with sister states to end the insecurity bedevilling the area.