Connect with us

News

Kaduna Communities Pay Millions Of Naira To Bandits Before Accessing Farms-BEPU

Published

4 years ago

on

Governor Nasiru Ahmad El-rufai

 

Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives Union (Union) observes how farmers in various communities in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State have became so helpless and resorted to negotiations with Armed bandits for them to be allowed to access their farmlands and cultivate crops. Investigation revealed that the armed have been contacting these Communities for negotiations for about three years ago but did not accepted until all hopes for help from the Government were lost.

In the last three years, farming activities in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area have been seriously crippled whereby about 70 percent of farmlands were not accessible by farmers. In many Communities in the area, farmers have paid millions of Naira individually and in groups before they were allowed to access their farmlands. This has continued up to present in some Communities.

In other situations, locals have to go for free labour in the farms of some bandits warlords for their freedom to live in their Communities and access to their farmlands. This despite several calls by the people to the Government to come to their help.

These communities are presently being governed by armed bandits. The armed bandits are seeing going round freely wielding different types of riffles unchallenged. Infact, the non-presence of democratic Government in the area is undoubtable.

Reject Atiku, Tinubu At 2023 Poll — Ringim.

Advert

It therefore based on this situation that the helpless locals were left with no other option than to accept the offer by the bandits for negotiation on access to farmlands.

These negotiations have allowed farmers in various Communities that were sacked before by the armed bandits (such as Katakaki, Ganda, Mashigi, Ginsa, Biskin, Layin Mai-Gwari, Kwasa-Kwasa and many others) access to their farmlands that were not accessible for about three years ago.

However, many farmers are in a state of uncertainty on whether these negotiations will last to allow all the farmers to harvest their crops at the end of the season.

Some of the agreements reached at the negotiations on the side of the farmers include allowing the farmers to access their farmlands without kidnapping or any form of intimidation or harm by the armed bandits while the armed bandits should be allowed to be coming to towns and villages where the peace deals were entered for healthcare, buying and selling as well as any other normal business.

Investigation revealed that, many bandits also farm in those Communities where these peace deals were entered. For instance, the notorious bandits warlord, Dogo Kachalla Gide, farms in Mashigi area where about five Tractors harrowed his large farm in the area. The farm, though under Birnin-Gwari soil, is neighbouring Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Findings also revealed that, despite the negotiations, though bandits may be said to have suspended kidnappings and attacks in some of these Communities, there are many cases where the armed bandits continued to snatch motorcycles and other valuables they found from farmers; though, with continuous consultations and discussion between the two sides’ negations teams, the breach of agreements are being addressed gradually by both sides.

However, BEPU observes these negotiations as temporary short time measure because the helpless Communities entered it on the side of weakness which is also tantamount to total anarchy.

In a statement by BEPU Spokesperson Ishaq Usman Kasai said they wouldn’t relent on our continuous call to Government to adopt any measure, carrot or stick, it finds suitable and capable in controlling and preventing criminal and terrorist activities vis a vis bringing an end to anarchy in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area and other parts of Nigeria.

 

Related Topics:

News

Insecurity: US lawmaker accuses Matawalle of bribe attempt to silence recommendation calling for his sack

Published

36 minutes ago

on

April 21, 2026

By

Governor Matawalle

 

Kimberly Daniels, a United States Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives for District 14, has alleged that Nigeria’s minister of state for defense, Bello Matawalle, attempted to bribe a US official to deflect the narrative of the United World Congress of Diplomats, UN-WCD, report.

The lawmaker made the claim in a viral video released on her official Facebook account on Monday.

She said Matawalle’s alleged move was to cover up the UN-WCD report on Christian genocide in Nigeria, which indicted him.

Daniels insisted that no amount of pressure can silence her stand against the killings of Christians in Nigeria.

Advert

“A US elected official was offered money by Nigeria’s minister of state defense, Bello Matawalle, to change the narrative of the UN-WCD Christian genocide in Nigeria report,” she said in the viral video.

Recall that Daniels, who doubled as the chairperson of UN-WCD, had called for President Bola Tinubu to remove Matawalle over alleged complicity in the killings in Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, and other parts of Nigeria.

Matawalle is yet to officially reply the US lawmaker.

Daniels alleged that following her recent press statement on what she described as targeted killings of Christians in Nigeria, she came under pressure from individuals she linked to the minister, including what she characterised as attempts to discredit her report and “buy support” from US-based elected officials.

According to her, an unnamed American lawmaker allegedly received an offer of financial inducement to publicly counter her position and defend the Nigerian defence leadership.

She claimed to have received evidence of a communication, including a prepared statement and promotional material, purportedly linked to the minister.

She also claimed that the bribery attempt is meant to divide America elected officials not knowing that they are united.

Continue Reading

News

Just In:President Tinubu Sacks Minister Of Finance

Published

5 hours ago

on

April 21, 2026

By

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a minor cabinet reshuffle in the membership of the Federal Executive Council.

According to a memo signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, two cabinet members, Mr. Wale Edun and Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa are to leave the cabinet while their replacements have been named.

Edun, until the latest development, was the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy. He has been directed to hand over to Mr. Taiwo Oyedele who is now to take over as Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. Oyedele was formerly a Minister of State in the ministry.

Also Mr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma (PhD .) has been named as the ministerial nominee and minister designate for the Housing and Urban Development Ministry.

Advert

The memo also directed Dangiwa to hand over to the Minister of State in the ministry.

The memo stated that “all handing over and taking over processes should be completed on or before close of business on Thursday 23rd April, 2026.”

Explaining the President’s decision, Akume said: “These changes are aimed at strengthening cohesion, synergy in governance as well as achieving more impactful delivery on the economy to Nigerians, through the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

He said the President, in approving the cabinet reshuffle, has fully exercised his powers as conferred on him by Sections 147 and 148 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, as amended).

The President thanked the outgoing ministers for their services to the nation while wishing them the best in all their future endeavours.

The President, Akume noted, equally assured all cabinet members that “the process of reinvigoration shall be continuous.”

Signed:

Yomi Odunuga,
Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation

21-04-2026

Continue Reading

News

JUST IN: FG Files 13 Count Charges Against Alleged Coup Plotters

Published

12 hours ago

on

April 21, 2026

By

 

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Federal Government has filed a 13-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja against individuals accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu. Among those named in the suit are a retired major general, a retired naval captain, a serving police inspector, and three other suspects.

Advert

According to security sources, the coup was scheduled to be executed on Nigeria’s Independence Day. However, the plot was uncovered after preparations and plans were leaked, leading to its successful disruption.

The development prompted the Federal Government to cancel the Independence Day programme—a move described as highly unusual by political observers.

Continue Reading

Trending