Benue Farmer Flees Farm After Bandits Demand ₦500,000 Before Harvest

A farmer in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State has reportedly abandoned his farmland after suspected bandits demanded ₦500,000 before allowing him to fully harvest his crops.

The incident occurred in Mbagena Council Ward, an area where residents have allegedly experienced repeated attacks and extortion by armed groups.

The farmer’s son, John James, a 300-level student of Benue State University, disclosed the incident during a capacity-building workshop on Promoting Safety and Security Rights, Accountability and Access to Justice, organised by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in Makurdi.

According to James, the attackers invaded his parents’ residence at night about two weeks ago and demanded ₦500,000 from his father, who combines farming with public service.

James said the gunmen initially gave his father three days to produce the money but later extended the deadline to one week after he explained that he needed to harvest his crops to raise the demanded amount.

The crops on the farm reportedly included groundnuts, beniseed and soyabeans.

“About two weeks ago, terrorists invaded his compound in the night where he was sleeping alongside my mother after work. They charged him to pay a ransom of N500,000. My father pleaded with them because there was nothing at the moment. He had to plead with them for our lives because contacting the security will only worsen the situation.”

Farmer’s Wife Allegedly Abducted and Tortured

James said the situation escalated when the attackers returned while his father was away attending a burial ceremony in Katsina-Ala town.

He alleged that the gunmen abducted his mother, accusing the farmer of intentionally delaying payment of the demanded ransom.

Although she was eventually released after one of the abductors reportedly intervened, James said she was subjected to torture 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.

₦200,000 Payment Fails to End Threats

James said his father eventually raised ₦200,000 with the help of friends and relatives and delivered the money to the attackers at midnight last Thursday.

However, the payment reportedly did not bring an end to the threats.

According to James, the bandits insisted that his father must pay the outstanding ₦300,000 before he would be allowed unrestricted access to his farmland.

“When my father returned and handed them the money, they said it was not enough, that he had to complete it to N500,000 before he would be allowed to harvest anything from his farm,” he said.

The partial payment reportedly enabled the farmer to harvest only some of his produce, while the remaining crops were left on the farm.

James said his father has since fled the community because of continued threats from the armed men.

“They are still threatening my father for the remaining amount, and he is on the run for fear of the unknown. He can’t go back to harvest everything now until he gets all the money,” James added.

Residents Allegedly Fear Reporting Attacks

James further alleged that the armed men operate openly within the community, with some reportedly known to local residents.

“These people are moving freely in our vicinity, and they are local bandits. In fact, some of them are known to the villagers because they are from the same community,” he said.

He also claimed that other residents had experienced similar attacks and extortion, while fear of retaliation had discouraged victims from reporting the incidents to security agencies.

“The villagers hardly report to police because those who attempted were killed by the bandits,” he alleged.

The incident has renewed concerns about the effect of insecurity on Benue’s farming communities, particularly where threats, kidnapping and extortion can prevent farmers from accessing their fields and harvesting their crops.

The allegations were made during the SERAP workshop, which focused on helping residents understand their safety and security rights, accountability mechanisms and available avenues for seeking justice.