Farmers in Achido community, located within the Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), close to Ohiore village in Toto Local Government Area (LGA) of Nasarawa State, are living in fear after the gruesome discovery of decomposing bodies of suspected kidnappers on their farmlands.
The troubling find comes after a violent confrontation last week between vigilantes, hunters, and suspected kidnappers, including members of the Miyetti Allah group. The clash resulted in the deaths of several of the kidnappers and the rescue of 14 individuals who had been held captive. Since then, the sight of the bullet-riddled bodies scattered across the farmland has instilled fear among local farmers, making them hesitant to return to their fields.
One farmer, Samari Gambo, shared his distressing experience, explaining that he found three decomposing bodies on his farm. The corpses, which were severely decayed and covered in bullet wounds, caused him to abandon his work for the day. “I went to the farm on Saturday to harvest crops when I discovered the bodies. The smell was unbearable, and I hurriedly gathered some harvest before fleeing home,” Gambo recounted in an interview with Daily Trust.
Another farmer, Samuel Gwatana, reported spotting four bodies further away from his property. He and other residents of Achido and the neighboring Ohiore village have been living in constant fear due to the ongoing presence of these bodies.
“Since the attack on the kidnappers by the Miyetti Allah vigilantes and hunters last week, many farmers have been too frightened to return to their fields,” Gwatana explained. “We’ve had to deal with kidnappers before, who would hold us hostage on our own farms, forcing us to run errands such as buying food before we could resume work.”
The discovery of the bodies, coupled with the previous threats of abduction, has made the farmers uneasy and fearful of returning to their land. The community is now urgently calling on the authorities in both Abaji Area Council and Toto LGA to collaborate on safely disposing of the bodies in order to restore a sense of security and normalcy.
“We need the authorities to come together and properly bury these bodies to help us feel safe again,” Gwatana added. The farmers are hoping that such action will bring peace back to the community and allow them to resume their agricultural activities without fear of further violence or interference.
