Two years ago when President
Muhammadu Buhari launched Operation
Harbin Kunama, a military taskforce
targetted at banditry and cattle rustling in Zamfara state, many
residents heaved a sigh of relief.
Despite the efforts of the
government and security forces, attacks have not stopped but taken a worse
dimension. Farmers in different parts of Zamfara have abandoned their farmlands
over fear of being kidnapped.
Some farmers affected by the
insecurity in the land told TheCable that the current farming season is the
worst in decades, not because of weather but attacks.
You think this man is a warrior? No. He is a farmer |
Around 9:30am on Monday, Abdu
Isyaku, a farmer in ‘Yar Tasha, Maru local government area of the state, was seen on his rickety motorcycle. Asked
where he was heading to, he said Gusau, the state capital, to do what he describes
as “hustling”.
At this time, the peak of farming
season, Isyaku, 43, was supposed to be at his farm, south of his village, but
he and many others have turned their backs to their farmlands out of fear of
death or abduction.
“Since the days of our ancestors,
all we have known to do is farming. But because of the fear of bandits we can
no longer go to our farms,” he said.
“Going to the farm is suicidal.
You would either get killed or kidnapped by the bandits. We have had so many
killed or kidnapped. No one wants to take the risk any more.”
A land yet to be cultivated |
CHILD FARMERS
In many villages, venturing a
kilometer away could prove dangerous. In some cases, children are sent to the
farm to minimise the risks of kidnapping.
An investigation in Maradun and
Maru local government areas shows that many families have turned away from
farming to make a living.
Villagers say they are aware that
the bandits are hiding not far away, waiting for an opportunity to either
kidnap or kill.
Hamisu Rabiu , another resident,
said the men chatter under trees or just sleep instead of going to the farm.
“We spend every night either on
trees or awake perpetually in fear of bandits attack. In the day we either
sleep or just gist around. No one can dare go to the farm. It is dangerous,”
Rabiu said.
For many people in Zamfara, this
year may be tough, not because of poor harvest but bandits. This means more
people will plunge into extreme poverty.
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