A 37-year-old man, identified as Enoch Ayuba, has been apprehended by local vigilantes in Kilankwa village, Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), for allegedly stealing a bag of sesame (beniseed) from a farm.
According to a member of the vigilante group, Solomon Bako, the suspect was caught when he attempted to sell the stolen sesame at the Kwaita village market on Tuesday.
Bako revealed that Ayuba had reportedly harvested the sesame on Monday evening from a farm owned by one Ishaya Jacob in Kilankwa village, without the owner’s consent. The theft was discovered the following morning when Jacob went to the farm to begin his own harvest, only to find that nearly a full bag of the sesame had been taken.
“The farmer reported the theft to one of our members in Kilankwa village, and we immediately set up surveillance around the sesame section of the Kwaita market,” Bako explained. “As fate would have it, the suspect brought the sesame to the market for sale, unaware that the owner and vigilante members were also present.”
Ayuba was reportedly apprehended at the scene and confessed to the theft during questioning. The stolen sesame was returned to its rightful owner, while the suspect was handed over to security personnel stationed at the market for further investigation.
The incident highlights ongoing efforts by local vigilante groups to curb theft and ensure security in rural farming communities within the FCT.
As of the time of filing this report, the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, SP Adeh Josephine, had yet to confirm the arrest or provide additional details regarding the case.
Farm thefts remain a pressing concern for farmers in the region, with many relying on community-led vigilante groups to safeguard their livelihoods. Such incidents underscore the challenges faced by rural farmers in protecting their produce amidst rising economic hardship.
Efforts to deter agricultural theft are critical to ensuring the security of farmers and the sustainability of their operations, as sesame and other crops represent significant sources of income for many rural households in the FCT and beyond.
By Saifullahi Muhammad
