Bandits Kill 15 Farmers, Injures Others For Refusing To Pay ‘Harvest Levies’ In Kaduna

Bandits have killed 15 farmers and injured many others during an attack in three Local Government Areas of Giwa, Birnin-Gwari and Kajuru of Kaduna state.

Bandits Attack Kaduna Villages

It was gathered that the farmers killed over their refusal to yield to the bandits’ demands to pay them levies before they harvest their farm produce.

Punch quoted a source saying that trouble started when the bandits demanded levies from farmers who were harvesting their farm produce.

According to him, the farmers resisted which provoked the bandits and by the time the dust settled, farmers were left dead and many others injured.

The source said, “they attacked a village called Rafin Sarki not in Giwa town but in Giwa local government.

“The people of the area were clearing their farm produce when the bandits came to collect money from them so they can ‘allow’ them to finish their farming activities.

“But the farmers refused to give them the money they demanded. From there, the thing started.”

Kaduna Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan confirmed the killing of 15 farmers in three communities.

The commissioner also said the attacks left scores of residents of the affected local government areas injured.

Aruwan said in Giwa LG alone, 11 locals were confirmed killed while in Birnin-Gwari and Kajuru recorded two deaths each.

According to him, those killed by the hoodlums include Abdullahi Musa, Adamu Musa, Aminu Nasiru, Adamu Ibrahim, Yau Usman Ladan, Yunusa Saidu, Salisu Abdulrahman, Fati Usman, Yakubu Ya’u, Marwanu Ibrahim and one unidentified body.

He gave the identities of those killed in Kajuru as Idon Bonos, and Aston Namaskar while those killed by the terrorists in Birnin-Gwari are Salisu Mai Tireda, and Mohammed Maikaba.

The commissioner said, “on a sad note, the Kaduna State government has sent its deepest commiserations to families of several victims who were killed in attacks by bandits in Giwa, Birnin Gwari and Kajuru Local Government Areas.

“The government was informed by security agencies that bandits attacked Rafin Sarki in Giwa LGA, with 11 locals confirmed killed.

Similar briefings revealed that Cibiya and Karamai communities in Kufana, Kajuru LGA were attacked by bandits and two people were killed, identified as Idon Bonos and Aston Namaskar.

“Several persons were left injured.’

Furthermore, bandits killed two people in Damari, Birnin Gwari LGA. The victims are identified as Salisu Mai Tireda and Mohammed Maikaba.

He said the governor, Nasir El-Rufai, expressed deep sadness over the latest attacks on the citizens while commiserating with families of the victims and prayed for the repose of the deaths.

“The governor also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. The government is engaging the security forces on these developments and other fronts,” the Commissioner added.

This comes six days after bandits abducted 44 residents including 39 women and children and five men in Kanwa village of Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.