Three farmers were abducted by gunmen,
suspected to be kidnappers, while working in their farms.
The incident happened at a farming area along
Sabongida-Dananacha in Gassol local
government area of Taraba State, Monday.
Three other farmers, including a cripple also
working in their farms, narrowly escaped.
One of the farmers who escaped, Mallam
Muhammadu Sabongida, told Daily Trust that
they were working in their farms at about 8am
Monday, when they noticed movement of
gunmen coming towards them.
Muhammadu said when they noticed the
gunmen approaching them, they abandoned
their farming tools and started running, adding
that the gunmen also gave them a hot chase.
According to him, they ran for several kilometres
inside the bush where they took cover under big
trees.
Crimefacts gathered that three other
farmers from the same town, who were working
in their farms, were not that lucky.
The farmers, a Tiv, a Fulani and a Hausa man,
working separately in their farms, were abducted
by the gunmen almost at the same time.
Alhaji Ahmed Habibu, a member of the
community, told our reporter that the incident
happened along Sabongida-Nanguru road and
the victims were abducted at about 8.30am.
He said it was very risky for farmers to go to
farms located far away from the town as a result
of rampant cases of kidnapping.
Habibu said those terrorising the area were
living within the same locality.
He disclosed that during this year’s farming
season alone, more than 12 farmers have been
abducted in their farms while ransoms were paid
for their release.
According to him, the community has reported
the matter to security agents but that has not
changed anything as kidnappers and bandits
still terrorised them at will.
when contacted, spokesperson of Taraba Police
command, DSP David Misal, said the incident
was not reported to the command.
