Governor’s agric revolution under threat as bandits kill 13 farmers
Farmers in Niger State have been thrown into morbid fear over the safety of their lives following the killing of 13 farmers in the state.
However, Arewa PUNCH reports that amidst these fears, the Niger State Police Command had said it does not have an update yet regarding the whereabouts of the fleeing bandits.
The killing of the farmers has sent cold shivers down the spine of the state farmers as well as the state government who see the renewed onslaught as a setback to its well-orchestrated resolve to end the nation’s food problem through its massive agricultural programme.
Arewa PUNCH further reports that the suspected bandits on Monday killed 13 farmers after tracking them to their farms in the Allawa community of the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. The bandits were said to have killed them over claims that they supplied intelligence on bandits’ movements to security agencies.
Bandits have been rampaging the local governments in Niger State, killing and abducting residents. They have even subjected some of the communities to payment of levies before they are allowed to engage in their lawful farming activities.
The Chairman of the Shiroro LGA, Akilu Isyaku, confirmed the killing of the 13 farmers in an interview with a local radio station in Minna on Wednesday.
He disclosed that the bandits shot nine of the farmers to death in the same spot while four others were killed at a different location on the same day.
Some farmers, who spoke with Arewa PUNCH on the development, expressed fears of more attacks from the bandits, saying that the security agencies and the state government had shown that there was nothing they could do to arrest the situation.
According to them, it would be foolhardy to believe that the security agencies would protect them against their attackers, especially during this farming season.
Musa Abdullahi, who is largely a yam farmer but engaged in other crops, told Arewa PUNCH on Friday, that he had not been himself since he heard of the news of the killing of his friends and colleagues.
According to him, farmers were an endangered species in Niger State, and both the government and its security agencies were helpless.
“Since the news of the killing of the farmers broke out, I have not been myself. I have been wondering and imagining how we farmers go into the bush on our own without security men to protect us. This action of the killing of our fellow farmers has shown that it could happen to anyone at any time, and nothing will come out of it,” Abdullahi said.
He maintained, “It is obvious that both the state government and the security agencies can not do anything about these bandits who go about with sophisticated weapons. Every farmer is now afraid of going to his farm. We are begging the state government to invite the Federal Government to come into this issue.”
A senior official in the Ministry of Agriculture who wants anonymity said the tragic incident took everyone by surprise. He pointed out that if nothing was done to apprehend these bandits, the agricultural program for the farmers that the government already earmarked for them this year may be in jeopardy.
“This killing took all of us by surprise. Even the minister has been dumbfounded since that incident. How can those criminals just accuse the farmers of leaking information to security agencies and waste them just like that?
“It is obvious that the Farmer Governor Bago’s plans to revolutionise farming in the state in order to feed the state and Nigeria is faced with a dangerous challenge. The farmers in the state will be afraid of venturing into their farms for fear of these bandits.
“I have always asked what it will take for our security agencies to wipe these criminals out of this state and other states where they are holding everyone to ransom?
“Governor Bago must have to sit up and confront this challenge headlong, or else his plans of bumper harvest will become a pipe dream. Only recently, the Etsu Nupe prayed for rain for our farmers to experience a bumper harvest, but now these bandits have struck farmers in the state. Where do we go from here?” the ministry official asked
Efforts to get state government’s official reaction over the killing of the farmers and the danger it poses to the farming community in Niger State on Friday proved abortive as none of the officials, including the Commissioner for Homeland Security, Mohammed Bello, the Commissioner for Agriculture Musa Bosso, the Commissioner for Information Binta Mamman and the governor’s Chief Press Secretary Bologi Ibrahim picked their calls.
Meanwhile, the Niger State Police Command spokesman Wasiu Abiodun who was also called to react to the incident and provide an update on the possible arrest of the bandits said the police did not have any update but were still investigating the incident.
He told Arewa PUNCH, “If there is an update on the farmers’ killing, we will write an update. Investigation is not something you go to the market and go and buy. Let’s see how it goes. I learnt that the deputy governor went there as a government functionary.
“When there is a good outcome, we will bring the update. It is the police that will even make noise about it, so let’s see how it goes,” Abiodun said.
Attacks by suspected bandits and other criminal elements have become common in the state, especially in the Shiroro Local Government Area.
The Niger State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management disclosed another incident in a statement it made available to the media.
The Director of Media and Strategy of the ministry, Habibu Wushishi, disclosed of yet another attack on Anguwan Magiro, Bassa communities still in the Shiroro LGA which occurred between August 20 and 21, 2024.
Our correspondent learnt that during the attack, many people were allegedly killed and others injured.
Wushishi was quoted as saying, “The attacks dealt a heavy blow on the communities as over 16 persons at the Anguwan Magiro community alone were confirmed dead with many others injured, but there was no case of abduction.
“In Bassa, no life was lost, though three shops stockpiled with foodstuff were broken into and other properties were carted equally away, even though no abduction case was reported.
“Over 12 neighbouring villages are currently in the Erena IDPs Camp, with their numbers yet to be ascertained.
“The Commissioner and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management however extends his heartfelt condolences to families of the victims, Shiroro Local Government and the entire Nigetlites,” Wushshi stated.
Arewa PUNCH learnt that the Niger State Acting Governor, Yakubu Garba paid a condolence visit to the Anguwan Magiro community where he had an interaction with the community members while assessing the situation and sympathising with them over the incident.
Yakubu, who spoke with newsmen after the interactive session and his on-the-spot assessment, said the security agents would carry out a thorough investigation over the attacks and relate the outcome to the government.
The deputy governor, like others, observed that insecurity was affecting the outcome of the Agricultural Revolution of the present administration in the state as farmers were being chased out of their communities by bandits.
Yakubu stressed, “We have condoled with the community and the family of the victims. The security agents will carry out a thorough investigation and relate the outcome to the government.
“Insecurity is definitely affecting the government’s agricultural revolution, and farmers are being chased out of their communities by bandits. I want to assure you that the government is doing everything humanly possible to change the narrative and tame the tide of insecurity in the state,” the acting governor declared.
