Farmers from Kangire town in Birnin Kudu Local Government Area of Jigawa State have alleged unfairness in paying them compensation for their expropriated farms for the expansion of the Federal Government General Hospital in Birnin Kudu
The farmers spoke during a press conference in Bauchi, Bauchi State.
They said instead of giving them the money for their farm, they were being given cheques of N3000, N4000 and N7000 only
Explaining what happened, the leader of the farmers Mallam Aliyu Abdullahi Kangire said that their farm is a large field that they had been cultivating for years since their parents and grandparents, “then one day we were called to the District Head palace, and we were told that this land, which we were cultivating was needed because the Federal Government Hospital in Birnin Kudu will be expanded.”
Abdullahi said that there are more than 500 arms belonging to different people, “and we were told to go out and measure the size of each farms in order to pay us compensation. When we were told this, we said that’s it, since it is clear that the government will do a project that will benefit the community, it can be taken, but we want the authorities to pay compensation”
He said after a long time, one day they were called again at the District Head palace and they were told that they will be paid compensation for the farm and what was planted in it, but because of the security situation, they will not be given physical cash. they will be given a cheque for the money, out of which they were to give something to their traditional ruler who is trying seriously to find a place for them to go back to farming.
“When we were called, we were given a cheque for everyone’s money. Then he put it in his pocket and took a picture of him, We were given one bottle of water and one bottle of soft drink each, some of us that collected their cheque, some saw that it was N7000, some N3000 and some N4500 which caused a lot of worry and feeling unjust, because if that’s the compensation, we were cheated.
“As a result of that majority of our farmers refused to collect the cheque, then our leaders called us and told us to be patient and collext the money or we will lose because there is no going back on the project.
“We tried to go to the radio station to explain our complaint as a result of that one of the staff of the radio station that assisted us was fired and transferred to Kano,.
“They came with their working tools and started clearing the farms and the crops we planted without paying the compensation. The workers clearing the farm were accompanied by armed security men and they prevented us from going there, but they cut down our trees, burnt them to make charcoal and sell”.
Abdullahi said people are in a state of depression and sadness, “that’s why we came to see if God will help us to air our grievances so that the Jigawa State Government and the Federal Government can come in and help us get their rights.”
They begged the government to either return their farms to them or pay them adequate compensation, and to find a place for them to continue farming as promised. They also begged the leaders to help them get justice, “but we did not get justice, that’s why we are asking for help on this matter, we are telling the world that out whole lives and those of our families depend on the farms.”
In their separate submissions, Sani Yusuf Kangire and Idris Aliyu Kangire said that they went to Abuja and contacted a radio station that aired their grievances and they were advised to come to Bauchi and meet journalists.
“We call on the Federal Government, the Ministry of Health and the Governor of Jigawa State to help us so that we can get justice and not to be harassed by our tradituinal.rulers and local government officials because we need nothing but justice on this matter.”
