Ex-Lawmaker Reveals How Bandits Took Over His N150m Farm

(Dauda Lata. Photo by Kaykaytv)

A former member of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Dauda Lata, alleged that bandits took over his farm valued at about N150m, harvested his crops and sold the produce openly in local markets after taking control of the facility.

Lata, who represented Lata and neighboring communities in the state Assembly, said more than 100 vigilantes were killed by armed men in his community and buried in a mass grave by residents.

The former lawmaker alleged this in an interview on Diamond FM that was monitored by news reporter.

He said the residents of the community along the Kwara-Kogi border are now living in fear due to the deteriorating security situation, accusing the government of not responding adequately to incessant appeals for intervention.

Lata said that the community had been attacked several times by armed men from a grazing reserve in the area, resulting in death, abduction and destruction of property.

“Last year these bandits grabbed my farm and took it over, he stated. “I am a big farmer, and I invested N150m on that farm. I texted the governor and the Speaker, but no response.

And we always see these bandits on the air. They took the crops and produce of my farm and took them to our market to sell and I could not do anything to stop them.”

The security crisis had reached to an extent that residents had no option than to respect the armed men, he said.

“Last year alone, they killed over 100 people from my community. More than 100 vigilantes died. We put them in a mass grave.

We the people did it to ourselves. “No one from the local government came to help us, no one even sent us condolences,” he said.

The residents had repeatedly told the relevant authorities about the attacks, but the government had been slow to intervene, he said.

The ex-lawmaker also said some residents had been kidnaped and were still being held captive, while their families were reportedly being asked to produce N50m as ransom.

“These Fulani were kidnapping people before he came and the people have not been released till now. “They are demanding N50m as ransom,” he said.

Weeks later, another resident was killed despite repeated pleas for help, Lata said, adding the community had appealed for soldiers, mobile policemen or forest guards to be sent to protect the residents.

He expressed worry over the psychological effect of the insecurity on children and other residents claiming that the fear of abduction and attacks has affected the wellbeing of members of the community.

The former lawmaker also accused the state government and other political office holders of not doing enough to address the security challenges despite the repeated appeals.

He said frustration over what he described as neglect of his community had influenced his decision to quit the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Since 2020, the governor has refused to come to my hometown of Lata, which is why I quit the APC.

I even messaged Rt. Hon. Engr. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, but he didn't reply," Lata stated.

Additionally, he criticized his successor in the state Assembly and local government authorities for allegedly failing to adequately address the security situation.

Despite repeated attacks and requests for government help, Lata said locals had been left on their own.

At the time this story was filed, the claims could not be independently confirmed.

Additionally, reporters was unable to independently identify the people who were supposedly in charge of the attacks, the reported fatalities, or the said occupation and harvesting of vegetables from Lata's property.

Comments on the accusations were not immediately forthcoming from the Kwara State Government or the security services.