In the Kuchi community of Munya Local Government Area (LGA), Niger State, 148 farmers have been held captive for 53 days following a bandit raid on May 24, 2024. The abduction, carried out by over 100 bandits, targeted farmers, including pregnant women and children. Since then, the bandits have demanded ransom for their release.
Abdulmalik Iliyasu, in an interview with Daily Trust, expressed deep sorrow over the situation, revealing the tragic deaths of some captives. Survivors reported that bandits collected ransom payments before informing families of these losses. “The bandits demand N2 million 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.
Negotiations have been further complicated by local informants who divulge information about affluent families, leading to increased ransom demands. Communities like Kapana, Wuloto, and Godan are also struggling with residents held in captivity, intensifying the region’s distress.
The district head of one affected community highlighted the pervasive fear among farmers, worsened 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 help them return to farming, crucial for their livelihoods and community stability.
SP Wasiu Abiodun, spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, assured that ongoing efforts in collaboration with the military are underway. He noted 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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