Tomato Farm Dispute Lands Chicken Behind Vigilante Bars in Kano
By Ahmad Tijjani Abdul
KANO — What began as an alleged case of crop destruction in a rural Kano community ended with an unusual “suspect” spending the night in custody after a chicken was detained by local vigilante operatives over claims that it damaged a tomato farm.
The incident occurred in Dorawar Sallau, Garun Malam Local Government Area, where a farmer, Sallau Mai’iri, accused the bird of scratching up tomato crops estimated to be worth about ₦30,000.
The chicken, said to belong to Abdullahi Yellow Ɗankamasho, was taken into custody by members of the local vigilante group after the farmer lodged a complaint, pending efforts to resolve the dispute between both parties.
Confirming the development, the Commander of the Vigilante Group in Garun Malam Local Government Area, Malam Uba Muhammad, said the decision to hold the chicken was intended to preserve the subject of the dispute while mediation was underway.
“We received a complaint from the farmer alleging that the chicken destroyed crops on his farm. We kept it in our custody so it would not disappear before the matter was amicably resolved between the parties,” the vigilante commander said.
According to him, the chicken remained in the vigilante facility for nearly 24 hours as community leaders and other stakeholders explored ways to settle the matter outside a formal legal process.
The chicken’s owner, Abdullahi Yellow Ɗankamasho, also spoke with reporters, explaining his position on the allegation and giving his account of the incident.
For his part, the complainant, Sallau Mai’iri, insisted the bird caused considerable damage to his tomato farm, saying the estimated loss compelled him to seek the intervention of the local vigilante group.