Acting on intelligence that certain inhabitants of Gajiganna town in Borno State were allegedly ‘conniving with Boko Haram’, security operatives arrest nine individuals, including three women. 

Nine people – including three women –have been arrested in Gajiganna town for allegedly collaborating with insurgents by sharing information and aiding attacks on the farming community.

The arrests occurred just over a week after the Nigerian Armed Forces and other operatives stepped up security measures to put a stop to persistent attacks and abductions carried out by members of the Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’way Wa’l-Jihād (JAS), more commonly referred to as Boko Haram, and its even more dangerous breakaway group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

The security situation in Gajiganna – a town in the Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno State in Nigeria’s northeast – has become intolerable for many of its inhabitants, most of whom are farmers.

Some have abandoned their farmlands and have sought refuge in safer areas of the state, saying they can no longer put up with persistent attacks and kidnappings.

Farmers told RNI that they feared for their lives. Even though they were expecting a bumper harvest this year, they would rather leave their lands than die.

They said they were terrified of going to their farmlands, most of which are on the outskirts of the town close to the forest, because they had lost family members and neighbours in attacks and many farmers had been abducted for ransom.

To try to allay the farmers’ fear, the military and other security operatives have imposed a curfew from 9pm to 6am. They have also increased the number of patrols.

A member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Gajiganna town, who asked to remain anonymous, said the military – working in collaboration with the CJTF and other security operatives – had received intelligence that certain inhabitants were allegedly “conniving and collaborating with Boko Haram”.

“As a result, nine people – including three women – have been arrested. It is believed that they were giving insurgents information and were aiding them in carrying out attacks on the community.

“They are being held in detention and will undergo interrogation.

“In the past two weeks, security operatives have been conducting more patrols and well-coordinated special operations against the insurgents who are terrorising the farming community by attacking, abducting and imposing tax on them.

“They allow farmers to work their lands only if they pay taxes in the form of cash and food – and anything else they demand. If farmers refuse, they are attacked. Often the insurgents kidnap them and demand high ransoms. Families struggle to pay the ransom and have to rely on neighbours to donate what they can to help.

“But the security operations have started to yield positive results. We expect to learn more from the suspects. There could be more arrests.

“Security operatives are working tirelessly to protect the lives and property of inhabitants of the town.

“Most of the residents are farmers who depend on the land to make a living and to put food on the table. If they cannot go to their lands, they will starve.

“I urge the locals to support the security operatives by giving relevant information about any suspicious movements, strange objects they find or questionable persons they encounter. We are asking for their help so that we can take decisive action against any threats.”

Modu Bor (not his real name), a farmer and a resident of Gajiganna, told RNI that since security measures had been beefed up, fewer farmers were fleeing from the town.

“Since security operatives started patrolling the forest, the attacks and abductions have drastically reduced. We feel safer because there is more of a security presence. We just hope the security situation will continue to improve.”

Ba’ana Ari (not his real name), also a farmer from Gajiganna town, said the security situation “has definitely improved”.

“The curfew has helped and the security operatives are conducting more patrols. But we are still concerned. We know insurgents are around and we are still scared when we go to our farmlands because they are close to the forests where Boko Haram fighters hide.

“Security operatives cannot be everywhere all the time. Boko Haram fighters tell us we have to pay taxes if we want to work on our lands. They demand money and food. If we don’t pay, we will die or they abduct us for ransom. We cannot go on living in fear. Every day when we go to our farmlands we fear it may be our last.

“We hope security operatives will continue to step up measures to crush the insurgents.”

SHETTIMA LAWAN MONGUNO