Niger Community Lament As 148 Farmers Still Held Captive 53 Days After Abduction

Residents of Kuchi, an agricultural community in Munya Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State, are enduring a prolonged crisis as 148 farmers remain in captivity fifty-three days after a brutal bandit raid on May 24, 2024.

The raid, carried out by over 100 bandits, resulted in the abduction of the farmers, including pregnant women and children. The captors have since demanded ransom for their release.

Abdulmalik Iliyasu, speaking with Daily Trust correspondent, shared the community’s distress, revealing that some farmers have died in captivity. He explained that the bandits collected ransom before notifying families of the deaths.

“The bandits are demanding 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,” Iliyasu lamented.

Iliyasu also disclosed that informants within the communities have been sabotaging negotiation efforts by revealing wealthy families to the bandits, leading to increased ransom demands.

Communities such as Kapana, Wuloto, and Godan also have residents in captivity, exacerbating the region’s crisis. The district head of one affected community highlighted the pervasive fear among farmers, exacerbated by the bandits’ threats of further attacks and the loss of livestock during raids.

Residents are appealing for government intervention, particularly securing the Dan-Gunu riverbank, a known crossing point for bandits entering Munya LGA from Kaduna State.

They urged authorities to support their return to farming, essential for their livelihoods.

In response, SP Wasiu Abiodun, spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, assured that ongoing efforts are being made in collaboration with the military to rescue the victims.

He emphasized the coordinated operation between Niger and Kaduna states.