Kaduna Farmers To Pay Bandits N12m Tax | READ MORE

The affected communities; Kwaga, Kwanan-Shehu, Unguwan Liman and Unguwan Shekarau are to pay N3 million each to the bandits or risk being kidnapped in their farms.

According to a statement signed by the Chairman of Birnin Gwari Emirate Progressive Union (BEPU) Ishaq Usman Kasai, the bandits gave them Friday, September 30, 2022, to meet their demand.

"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 cropsÔÇØ the statement read in part.

Kasai said that the union discovered that the helpless communities had started making contributions based on farm size to meet the condition and the deadline.

He also noted that the six (6) members of Kwaga community kidnapped at a farm centre on Saturday September, 24 2022, were released on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, after giving the bandits rice, beans, 25 litres of red oil, 25 litres of groundnut oil and recharge card of N10,000.

"the four (4) people of Unguwan Liman, who were kidnapped on Saturday, 24th September, 2022, and one at Unguwan Shekarau were also released on Wednesday after payment of N2 million and N500,000, respectively.ÔÇØ

"the five (5) farmers earlier kidnapped on Thursday, 15th September, 2022 at Kurgin Gabas and Sabon-Layi areas have luckily escaped from the kidnappers' den in the early hours of Friday, 22nd September, 2022 after spending a week in captivityÔÇØ.

"a farmer was killed at Shiwaka community on Tuesday, 27th September, 2022 after being tied to a treeÔÇØ.
"more than 20 people were kidnapped on Wednesday, 28th September, 2022 at different farms in Jangali and Kwaga areas" it added.

The union calls on the state and Federal government to come to the aid of the farmers.