Benue farmer abandons crops over bandits’ N500,000 ransom

Etim Ekpimah

A farmer in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State has abandoned his farm after suspected bandits demanded N500,000 before allowing him to harvest his crops.

The farmer, a resident of Mbagena Council Ward, was reportedly forced to flee after the attackers threatened him over the money, leaving his groundnut, beniseed, soyabean and other crops behind.

His son, John James, a 300-level student at Benue State University, disclosed the family’s ordeal at a capacity-building workshop on promoting safety, security rights, accountability and access to justice organised by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project in Makurdi.

James said suspected bandits invaded his parents’ home at night about two weeks ago and demanded N500,000 from his father.

According to him, his father pleaded for more time because he had no money available and needed to harvest his farm produce to raise the ransom.

James said the attackers initially gave his father three days to produce the money but later extended the deadline to one week.

However, while the farmer was trying to raise the money, the attackers allegedly returned and abducted his wife, accusing him of deliberately delaying payment.

James said his mother was taken while his father was attending a burial ceremony near Katsina-Ala town.

He said she was eventually released after one of the abductors appealed for her freedom because she was distressed and crying.

James alleged that his mother was subjected to physical abuse during her captivity and was still suffering emotional and physical effects from the ordeal.

He said his father later raised N200,000 with help from relatives and friends and handed the money to the attackers at midnight on Thursday.

However, the bandits allegedly insisted that the farmer must pay the outstanding N300,000 before he could return to his farm and harvest the remaining crops.

The continued threats, James said, forced his father to flee the area.

“He can’t go back to harvest everything now until he gets all the money,” he said.

James also alleged that the suspected bandits operated openly in the community and that some were known to residents.

He said other farmers had suffered similar attacks, including theft and intimidation, although his father’s case was the first in which he had allegedly been required to pay a ransom to access his farm.

James further claimed that fear of reprisals had discouraged residents from reporting attacks to security agencies.

“The villagers hardly report to police because those who attempted were killed by the bandits,” he alleged.

The workshop, organised by SERAP, brought community members together to discuss insecurity, accountability, access to justice and ways of asserting their rights to safety and security.