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A farmer in Kastina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State has abandoned his farm after suspected bandits demanded N500,000 before allowing him to access and harvest his crops.
The farmer, from Mbagena Council Ward, was reportedly attacked at his home about two weeks ago, with the assailants demanding the ransom.
His son, John James, a 300-level student of Benue State University, disclosed this at a capacity-building workshop organised by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project in Makurdi.
James said the attackers initially gave his father three days to raise the money but later extended the deadline to one week after he explained that he needed to harvest his crops to raise funds.
According to him, the farmer was later absent when the attackers returned and abducted his wife, accusing him of deliberately delaying payment. She was eventually released after one of the abductors reportedly pleaded for her freedom.
Credit: Daily Trust
James said his father later raised N200,000 from friends and relatives and paid the money, but the bandits insisted that he must pay the remaining N300,000 before he could return to the farm.
As a result, the farmer has fled the area, leaving his groundnut, beniseed, soyabean and other crops behind.
James alleged that suspected local bandits had been terrorising residents and moving freely within the community, adding that some villagers were reluctant to report attacks because those who had previously sought police intervention were allegedly targeted.
He said the incident was not the first attack on his father, noting that the farmer had previously been robbed of money and goods.
The SERAP workshop provided a platform for residents to share experiences of insecurity and discuss their rights, accountability and access to justice.
