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Bandits to Benue farmer: Pay N500,000 before harvesting your crops
Bandits have demanded the payment of N500,000 from a farmer in a Benue state community before he would be allowed to access his farm to harvest crops.
The farmer, identified as a resident of Mbagena Council Ward in Kastina-Ala local government area, was allegedly targeted by local bandits who have reportedly been terrorising communities in the area and imposing ransom demands on residents.
His son, John James, a 300-level student of Benue State University (BSU), disclosed the development while speaking at a capacity-building workshop on Promoting Safety and Security Rights, Accountability and Access to Justice organised by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in Makurdi at the weekend.
According to James, his father, who works in the public sector while also engaging in farming, was attacked at his residence about two weeks ago by suspected bandits who demanded N500,000.
James said the attackers initially gave his father three days to produce the money but later extended the deadline to seven days after he explained that he needed to harvest his farm produce before he could raise the ransom.
He said his father had planned to sell some of his crops, including groundnut, beniseed and soyabean, to raise the money demanded by the attackers.
James said, “About two weeks ago, terrorists invaded his compound in the night where he was sleeping alongside my mother after work. They charged him to pay a ransom of N500,000.
“My father pleaded with them because there was nothing at the moment. He had to plead with them for our lives because contacting the security would only worsen the situation.”
The student further narrated that the situation escalated when the attackers returned to the family home and abducted his mother, accusing his father of intentionally delaying the ransom payment.
According to him, the farmer was away attending a burial ceremony around Kastina-Ala town when the gunmen arrived at the residence and took his mother away.
James said his mother was eventually released after one of the abductors reportedly intervened and pleaded for her freedom after seeing her crying and in distress.
“She was freed but not without being tortured. As I talk to you now, my mother is suffering emotionally and physically from the pains she suffered in the course of the torture,” he said.
He disclosed that his father subsequently sought assistance from friends and relatives and was able to raise N200,000, which he handed over to the suspected bandits at about midnight on Thursday.
However, rather than allowing him unrestricted access to his farm, the attackers allegedly told him that he would have to complete the N500,000 ransom before harvesting the rest of his crops.
“When my father returned and handed them the money, they said it was not enough, that he had to complete it to N500,000 before he would be allowed to harvest anything from his farm,” he said.
James said the continued threats had left his father with no choice but to flee the community, while his farm produce remained unharvested.
“They are still threatening my father for the remaining amount, and he is on the run for fear of the unknown. He can’t go back to harvest everything now until he gets all the money,” James added.
The David Mark-led faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the Federal High Court judgement that removed its leadership.
The opposition party also disclosed that it had filed an application seeking a stay of execution of the judgement pending the hearing and determination of its appeal.
The party made this known in a statement on Friday, November 6, adding that it had formally notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the legal steps taken,
The appeal is against the judgement delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 5, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1619/2025, involving Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe and the ADC.
The party urged INEC to refrain from taking any further action on the matter until the Court of Appeal has considered the case.
It argued that the application for a stay of execution was yet to be decided and that the electoral commission should not take any step that could affect the outcome of the appeal.
According to the ADC, it expects INEC to respect the ongoing legal process and allow the appellate court to hear the matter before making any decision connected to the judgement.
The statement partly read, “The ADC is exercising its lawful right to appeal. The judgement is now being challenged before a higher court, and the legal process must be allowed to run its course.
“We expect INEC to uphold the law and take full account of the pending proceedings before making any consequential decisions.”
The party also urged its members and supporters to remain calm, insisting that the court judgement would not stop its political activities.
It said its campaigns would continue while it explored all available legal options to defend its position.
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The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Senator David Mark, declaring the caretaker committee that oversaw the party’s affairs illegal and invalidating all decisions taken by the committee.
The judgment, delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu, also affects the presidential primary that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the ADC’s flag bearer for the 2027 general elections.
Atiku, whose name had earlier been published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s presidential candidate, had already selected former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.
The ruling followed a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the ADC, who challenged the process through which the David Mark-led leadership assumed control of the party.
Gombe argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over the leadership.
He consequently asked the court to invalidate all actions undertaken by the Mark-led leadership and restrain Senator Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from presenting themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.
The plaintiff maintained that their emergence violated the ADC constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
In suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, the ADC, INEC, Senator David Mark, Aregbesola and Chief Ralph Nwosu were listed as defendants.
Justice Lifu upheld Gombe’s claims and granted the reliefs sought, effectively invalidating the authority of the caretaker committee and decisions taken under its leadership.
The verdict is expected to trigger fresh political uncertainty within the ADC, particularly over Atiku’s presidential ambition and the party’s preparations for the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
However, the party has vowed to challenge the judgment at the appellate court.
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