Over 100 bandits carried out the abduction, targeting farmers, including pregnant women and children, and have since demanded a ransom for their release.
No fewer than 148 farmers from Kuchi, an agrarian community in Munya Local Government Area (LGA), Niger State, have been held captive for 53 days following a devastating bandits raid on May 24, 2024.
Over 100 bandits carried out the abduction, targeting farmers, including pregnant women and children, and have since demanded a ransom for their release.
Abdulmalik Iliyasu, speaking to Daily Trust, expressed profound anguish over the situation, disclosing the tragic deaths of some captives. Survivors revealed that the bandits callously collected ransom payments before notifying families of these losses.
“The bandits demand N2million and a Honda motorcycle for each captive. We are farmers, and without access to our farms, we have no means to raise such sums,” lamented Iliyasu.
He also revealed that local informants had worsened negotiations by divulging information about affluent families, leading to higher ransom demands.
Communities like Kapana, Wuloto, and Godan are also grappling with the crisis of residents held in captivity, further intensifying the region's distress.
The district head of one affected community underscored the pervasive fear among farmers, exacerbated by threats from bandits and the loss of livestock during raids.
Residents urgently appealed for government intervention, emphasizing the need to secure the Dan-Gunu riverbank, a critical entry point for bandits from Kaduna State into Munya LGA. They urged authorities to facilitate their return to farming, crucial for their livelihoods and community stability.
SP Wasiu Abiodun, spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, assured ongoing efforts in collaboration with the military.
He highlighted a coordinated operation spanning Niger and Kaduna states aimed at rescuing the abducted farmers and restoring peace to the troubled region.
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