Farmers in Katsina State have expressed relief following increased effort by vigilante members to checkmate banditry, cattle rustling as well thieves who steal grains in the state.
Residents told Arewa Trust Weekly that the activities of vigilante members have succeeded in causing a reduction in farm produce theft especially during the harvest season.
Our correspondent reports that the harsh economy, coupled with skyrocketing food prices have in the last four years seen farmers struggling with thieves who steal their farm produce, especially at night.
Auwal Alhassan, a farmer at Mahuta in Dandume LGA, said many thieves have kept off their farm produce this year out of fear of members of the vigilante who are tackling banditry and cattle rustling in the area.
“Because of incessant banditry in this part of the state, vigilantes have formed a strong force fishing out cattle rustlers, informants and bandits in towns and villages. Because of these drastic measures, thieves disturbing our farms and other criminal elements have been on the run for fear of being apprehended,” he said.
Another farmer from Funtua, Sani Abdullahi, said burglars who attacked people at night have also been tackled by the vigilantes.
He lamented however that delay in judicial processes, the culture of abetting criminals and corruption have for a long time bolstered thieves and other criminals in their neighbourhoods.
“But the recent measures taken by vigilantes to address banditry have sent fear into the criminals,” he said.
Abdullahi further said the vigilante members are now also enforcing morality by ensuring that those with bushy and ‘uncultured’ hairstyles that do not conform with the culture and religious teachings of the communities are forced to have a hair cut.
“The activities of the vigilantes are actually yielding positive results in this area, especially now that informants and accomplices of cattle rustlers and kidnappers are being fished out in our localities,” said Sani Abdullahi.
