The chairman of the Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives Union (BEPU), Ishaq Usman Kasai has alleged that many bandits and their leaders have farmlands in some communities of Kaduna State.
According to him, the notorious warlord, Dogo Kachalla Gide, is one of the bandit leaders that have farms, stating that his own is located in Mashigi area.
The community leader added that many farmers in other communities of Kaduna have been forced to cough out huge sums of money running into several millions of naira to be able to have access to their own farmlands.
He lamented that without paying the ransom to the bandits as demanded, the farmers risk attacks and kidnaps whenever they go to the farm but for communities that have negotiated with the bandits, they are safe while the bandits in exchange freely come to such places to access healthcare, buy, sell and do other normal activities.
Kasai observed that farmers in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State have agreed to pay the ransom to the bandits so they can access their farmlands as they (farmers) are already helpless.
“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 in a statement.
Some of the communities listed to have negotiated and reached agreements with the bandits for farmers to access their farmlands include; Katakaki, Ganda, Mashigi, Ginsa, Biskin, Layin Mai-Gwari, Kwasa-Kwasa.
He called on the state government to intervene and prevent the bandit terrorists from operating in the areas.
When contacted for a reaction, the Police Public Relations Officer in Kaduna, DSP Mohammed Jalige, said he doesn’t have the details but would confirm from the Area command.
