However, a BBC Hausa report said the state police command denied the story, saying no complaints had been made before it of any destruction of farmland by the bandits.
According to him ,” once you left Gusau before you reach Magami is a herculean task unless you’ve an escort.
” If you go to Magami, a kilometre to Magami the bandits can stop you, either abduct you or ask you to pay tax.
” The farmers went to harvest maize on the farm but the bandits stopped them and set the farms on fire. They held two women hostage,who were there.The bandits seized a new vehicle belonging to the farmers, but they later released the women.
”Yesterday the bandits set some places on fire near the entrance to the town,but people teamed up and chased them away before putting off the fire.
”What happened was less than a kilometre to Magami and the place was on the road. They are doing that to show us if money is not paid to them,they will continue to burn people’s farms.
” There are plans to collect money from community members and pay them.But before that is done ,if you dare go to the farm,they will abduct you,burn your farm and demand for ransom.That is our current predicament. “
He said although there were soldiers stationed in Magami town,their lives depend on Almighty Allah because He is the only one that can protect them.
”This is our problem everyday, our worry everyday day, ” he said.