Recently resettled residents in Gadayi in the Nganzai Local Government Area of Borno State are once again fleeing from their village because of frequent brutal attacks and kidnappings by insurgents.
The villagers, most of whom are farmers, were resettled in their ancestral hometown about four months ago when it was supposedly “relatively peaceful”.
During the peak of the insurgency, they had been forced to flee to Maiduguri because of incessant attacks by insurgents. They took refuge in internally displaced persons’ camps or in host communities.
But four months ago they were told it was safe to return to their hometown.
At first it was peaceful and, as soon as the rainy season began, the farmers cleared their lands and immediately began large-scale planting of crops – mostly beans, groundnuts and Bambara nuts.
But the peace did not last. Soon after resettling, insurgents began attacking the villagers, keeping them away from their lands and many residents of Gadayi village, which is close to Gajiram, the headquarters of Nganzai, fled from their homes to seek shelter in safer areas.
Muktar Gadayi, a farmer, told RNI that even though the crops had been planted, they were unable to access their lands because they were terrified they would be attacked or kidnapped.
“Most of the people in Gadayi don’t even sleep in the village anymore because they are so scared of being attacked. Night after night Boko Haram [Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’way Wa’l-Jihād – JAS] insurgents abduct anyone they can find – men, women and even children – to get ransom money. Now most of those villagers spend the night in the neighbouring communities of Gajiram and Gajiganna.
“Many of the villagers have fled even though they invested all their money in large-scale seasonal farming. Some are now living in Gajiram and Gajiganna, others have returned to Maiduguri.”
He said more people would flee if the government did not provide adequate security urgently.
“It is just too dangerous to stay in Gadayi village. The continual attacks and kidnappings are terrifying. We desperately need soldiers and other security operatives in the village to keep us safe.”
Abubakar Gadayi said the insurgents usually demanded at least ₦1.5 million as ransom.
“We are poor people and cannot afford that amount. The cost of living is already too high. Sometimes the villagers donate money so that together they can pay the ransom. But it has got too much. Many have fled. Some men have stayed behind to look after their farmlands but they have sent their wives and children away to ensure their safety. Our women and children are staying in community camps in Maiduguri.”
He said the men who had stayed behind to mind the farmlands usually spent the night in the forest.
“Some of us sleep in the trees, right at the top, while others sleep in tents made of grass. We cannot just leave because we need to protect our farmlands. But we live in constant fear. We know the insurgents could strike at any moment.”
Modu Acha, one of the farmers who has fled to Maiduguri with his family, said it was mostly the women, old men and children who had left the village. Some were staying in the Gajiram town and Gajiganna.
“But many, like us, have returned to Maiduguri. It was just too dangerous to stay behind. We will not return unless the federal and Borno State governments do something urgently about the insecurity. We want to go back to our village so that we can continue farming. But we cannot return until we know we will be safe and our lives will no longer be threatened.”
SHETTIMA LAWAN MONGUNO
