Farmers in the villages of Kanam local government area of Plateau state have decried persistent attacks, saying bandits have prevented them from accessing their farms.

The farmers said this year, they could not cultivate crops due to insecurity, adding that they are afraid of being kidnapped while going to the farmers.

The farmers lamented that farming and rearing of animals were their only sources of livelihood but being disrupted due to rampant insecurity in the areas. They said they neither go to the farms nor rear animals because the animals are rustled by the bandits.

According to the farmers, Garga, Dadin Kowa, Gada, Keram, Gyanbahu, Dungur, Wanka, Kukawa, Shuwaka, were among more than 15 communities affected.

Gambo Musa, a resident of Garga community, said, “There is no farming this year because we cannot access our farms. We are always afraid of going to the farms. There is no farming for us. We are only expecting rain between August and September. So , it is not possible to cultivate crops and have them mature before the rainy season ends.”

Abdulaziz Adam, a resident of Gyangyen village, said, “There is a problem, honestly. As villagers, we are known for farming and rearing but these activities are threatened by the insecurity in our community. Bandits are not allowing us to go to the farms. If you go to the farm, you will be kidnapped and we don’t have the capacity to pay ransom. That is why we are avoiding our farm. They follow us to the house to kidnap for ransom. What about if you go too far? Those who go to the farm are more vulnerable .”

Another farmer in the area, Usman Adamu, lamented that “farming activities have been disrupted due to the banditry. Bandits have rustled our cattle. We cannot go to the farms. These are what we rely on but they have been disrupted.”

The farmers, while calling on the government to come to their aid, stressed that there would be hunger in the affected communities.

Our correspondent reports that bandits have been frequently raiding Kanam and Wase.

In a recent interview with journalists in Jos, Brigadier General Gakji Shipi (rtd), Special Adviser to Governor Caleb Mutfwang on Homeland and Security, said Wase and Kanam were prone to attacks because they share borders with Odare forest, which stretches to Bauchi, Taraba and Plateau.

Shipi added that efforts were being made to coordinate operations with sister states to end the insecurity bedeviling the area.