Armed bandits have reportedly killed a farmer and abducted at least six others in Garbatau, located in the Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State.
While the police have yet to release an official statement regarding the incidents, local sources confirm that Wanda Maibultu, a well-known farmer, was killed on his farm on Saturday evening.
“Maibultu was a prominent farmer with a large-scale operation in Garbatau village, just a few kilometres from Garba Chede town,” said Adamu Dauda, a resident of Maihula.
According to Mr Dauda, the kidnappers have demanded a ransom of N100 million from the families of the abducted farmers. The six victims were reportedly taken while they were harvesting their crops near Garbatau, a farming community nestled between two mountains.
This incident is not isolated; Mr Dauda noted that the community had experienced multiple kidnappings in the past. Last year, numerous farmers were abducted in separate raids, with many forced to pay ransoms for their release.
The state police spokesperson, Usman Abdullahi, was unavailable for comment, as he did not respond to calls or messages regarding the situation.
Kidnapping for ransom has become a prevalent issue in many areas of Taraba and other northern states in Nigeria, with various armed groups engaging in these activities. The targeting of farmers and the occupation of agricultural communities by bandits have been cited as significant factors contributing to the current food crisis in Nigeria.
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