There are fears that efforts by the government at the federal and state levels may be frustrated by terror elements who attack farmers and deny them access to their farms. There was a recent development in Niger state, where bandits seized farmlands of about four villages and also displaced about 600 people.
The villages are in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. Reports say the bandits forcefully engaged villagers who were working on the seized farmlands.
According to a statement signed by Habibu Wushishi, director, Media and Strategy, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, “We received yet another report of the shocking and painful incidences of banditry attacks in Lanta, Tunga, Dnakau and Juweedna communities of Erena in the Shiroro Local Council of the State.
“The attacks occurred on Thursday, 20th June 2024, at about 5:36pm, and many cattle and sheep were rustled, but no case of kidnapping was reported. However, many of the houses in Lanta village were burnt down by the bandits.”
Apart from seizing the farm lands,the bandits added insult to injury, by forcing some of the farm owners, and other villagers to forcefully work on the field.
