To access their farmlands, Kaduna farmers agree to pay bandits huge amount

Farmers in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State have reportedly agreed to pay the bandits huge amounts levied on them in order to access their farmlands.

As reported by Daily Trust, the Chairman, Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives Union, Ishaq Usman Kasai, said bandits imposed multi-million naira levies on the farmers.
Kasai, in a statement said the farmers resorted to negotiating with the bandits because they were helpless.

He said farming activities had been crippled in Birnin-Gwari as about 70 per cent of farmlands have been inaccessible by farmers in the last three years.

“In many Communities, farmers paid millions of Naira before they were allowed to access their farmlands.”

“Some of the agreements reached at the negotiations on the side of the farmers include allowing the farmers to access their farmlands without kidnapping or any form of intimidation by the bandits while the bandits should be allowed to be coming to towns and villages where the peace deals were entered for healthcare, buying and selling as well as any other normal business,” he said.

The BEPU  chairman explained further that the negotiations allowed the farmers that were sacked by the bandits in communities such as Katakaki, Ganda, Mashigi, Ginsa, Biskin, Layin Mai-Gwari, Kwasa-Kwasa and many others access their farmlands.

He added that many bandits have farms in those Communities, adding that the notorious warlord, Dogo Kachalla Gide, has farms in Mashigi area.

Kasai said the bandits had suspended kidnappings and attacks in some communities but they have continued to snatch motorcycles and other valuables from farmers.

He urged the state government to adopt any measure it finds suitable to prevent terrorists from spearheading anarchy in Birnin-Gwari and environs.