By Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
Bandits have placed a tax regime of N12m on some communities in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State if they must harvest their crops in peace.
This tax regime was contained in a statement issued by the Chairman of Birnin Gwari Emirate Progressive Union (BEPU), Ishaq Usman Kasai on Thursday.
The statement noted that the bandits have threatened the farmers, who failed to pay the N12 million, to forget participating in the farming season.
Besides, failure to cough up the N12 million will result in kidnapping the recalcitrant farmers on their farms.
“The bandits informed some farming communities including Kwaga, Kwanan-Shehu, Unguwan Liman and Unguwan Shekarau to pay levies amounting to N12 million (3 million each) in order for them to be allowed to continue harvesting their crops.
“These communities are giving only grace of coming Friday 30/9/2022 to meet the condition failure of which the bandits vow to kidnap any person found on farms.
“The Union found that these helpless communities have started making contributions based on farm size to meet the condition and the dateline.
“We are, therefore, appealing to the Nigerian Government to come to the aid of the helpless farming communities of Birnin-Gwari in order to allow them free access to their farms and harvest their crops without any harm or intimidation.
“Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressive Union (BEPU) regret to report that as farmers begin to harvest their crops, armed bandits intensify their attacks and imposed levies on some farming communities in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
“The Union updates that, the 6 people kidnapped at farm centre on Saturday 24/9/2022 who were of Kwaga Community were released yesterday Wednesday 28/9/2022 after providing to the bandits – 20 Mudu of rice, 20 Mudu of beans, 25 litres of red oil, 25 litres of groundnut oil and recharge card of N10,000.
“Also, the four people of Unguwan Liman who were kidnapped on Saturday 24/9/2022 and one at Unguwan Shekarau were released yesterday Wednesday after payment of two million and N500,000 respectively.
“The Union is, however, pleased to report that the 5 farmers earlier kidnapped on Thursday 15/9/2022 at Kurgin Gabas and Sabon-Layi areas have luckily escaped from the kidnappers’ den in the early hours of Friday 22/9/2022 after spending a week in captivity.
“Regrettably, a farmer was killed at Shiwaka community on Tuesday 27/9/2022 after been tied to a tree; and more than 20 people were kidnapped yesterday Wednesday 28/9/2022 at different farms in JANGALI and KWAGA areas,” the statement said.
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