A farmer in Kastina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State has reportedly fled his community after suspected bandits allegedly demanded N500,000 from him before granting him access to his farmland.
The farmer, a resident of Mbagena Council Ward, was said to have been targeted by suspected local bandits who have allegedly been terrorising residents and imposing financial demands on members of the community.
His son, John James, a 300-level student of Benue State University, disclosed the ordeal during a security and human rights workshop organised by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project in Makurdi.
James said his father, who combines public service with farming, was attacked at his residence about two weeks ago and ordered to pay N500,000.
According to him, the assailants initially gave his father three days to produce the money but later extended the deadline to a week after he explained that he needed to harvest and sell some of his farm produce to raise the demanded sum.
James said the farmer intended to sell crops including groundnuts, beniseed and soyabeans to meet the demand.
He recalled that the attackers later returned to the family residence when his father was away and abducted his mother, allegedly accusing him of deliberately delaying payment.
James said his mother was eventually released after one of the abductors reportedly intervened on her behalf, but alleged that she was tortured during her captivity.
“She was freed but not without being tortured. As I talk to you now, my mother is suffering emotionally and physically from the pains she suffered in the course of the torture,” he said.
The student said his father subsequently sourced N200,000 from relatives and friends and handed the money to the suspected bandits around midnight on Thursday.
Rather than allow him to return to his farm, however, the attackers allegedly insisted that the outstanding N300,000 must be paid before he could harvest his crops.
James said the continued threats forced his father to leave the area, leaving the farm produce behind.
He added that the suspected bandits were allegedly operating openly in the community, with some of them reportedly known to residents.
According to him, other farmers and residents have also suffered attacks, theft and intimidation, while his father had previously lost money and belongings to the assailants.
James further alleged that fear of reprisals had discouraged some villagers from reporting attacks to security agencies.
“The villagers hardly report to the police because those who attempted were killed by the bandits,” he alleged.
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