Hardship: Nigerians Resort To Stealing Fresh Farm Products

FROM SAMSON ALFA, MINNA

As hunger continues to bite harder in Nigeria, people have resorted to stealing fresh farm produce, even as illegal mining has become a source of feeding in most households in Niger State.

AljazirahNigeria gathered in Minna and environs that the farm produce mostly affected include maize, ground nuts, cassava and yam due to the hardship faced by the people. 

Investigation by Aljazirah indicates that in many occasions, women are the culprits, just as majority of them engage in mining activities despite government’s directive to stop illegal mining.

According to the report, the stealing of fresh farm produce have become a daily affair.  An eye witness told Aljazirah that the hardship experienced by the people have forced them to engage in ‘extraordinary’ ventures to make ends meet.

The report revealed that even during the planting season, farm seedlings already planted were removed from the ridges at night, just as some bags or mudus of maize were carted away from shops. 

Mallam Musa and Mr Harry told Aljazirah in Minna that last April, vertually all the yam seedlings totalling 3000 planted were removed from his farm by  unknown persons. The report added that there are instances where people were caught in the farm with sacks removing fresh maize or cassava depending on the products in the farm.

He explained that the scenario has prompted owners of such farms to arrange for internal security to guard their crops in their various farms beginning from morning to late evening.

It reports that women are now becoming bread winners of various homes as they go to the homes of well meaning individuals to seek means of sustenance due to the economic hardship being experienced. 

AljazirahNigeria also reports that at one of the residences of a well meaning individual in Tunga, hundreds of women converged on the residence every Friday to collect either food or cash.

Some women who don’t want their names to appear in print informed AljazirahNigeria that Alhaji Samunaka is a philanthropist who usually gives succour to both men and women, especially during Sallah and fasting festivals but as the hardship continues to bite harder, we have no option to come and gather at his home for possible assistance.

Also in an interview, a former Principal, Mallam Yakubu Ismaila narrated his experience, “it was one evening i went to my farm along Paiko road and I caught a lady and her son removing maize, she pleaded when she was threatened, saying it is hunger.

Aljazirah reports that the same report on stealing of fresh farm products was reported in Mokwa, Lavun,Bida , Shiroro, Munya and Tafa Local Government Areas recently. A man was cut removing cassava and maize in a farm within Bosso and Chanchaga Local Government Areas.

While at the mining site along western by- pass, Maitumbi, Aljazirah sought to know why illegal miners have refused to vacate the site despite government’s frequent harassment and arrest, the angry youths at the site delegated a woman, Malama Hafsat Abubakar to speak.

Abubakar told Aljazirah that for now, as far as the high cost of living continues, illegal mining has been of a great assistance to them, “some of our husbands have retired, we thank God for this illegal mining which has been the only source of our livelihood.”