Categories: Nigeria News

Boko Haram: Northern farmers pay N1.7m tax, harvest fees to avoid being attacked by terrorists

Farmers in Northern Nigeria now pay bandits at least N1.7m annually as tax and harvest fees before they can have access to their farms and avoid being abducted.

“Our people have stopped going to their farmlands for fear of being kidnapped or killed. Kidnapping has become a common phenomenon in this area.

“Bandits are now the ones who decide whether we go to farms or not, in some areas even if farmers plant crops they cannot cultivate due to insecurity.

“In my village, we pay N800,000 as tax and N900,000 as harvest fees. Even if you pay, they will come to your farm and abduct you. This Fulani herdsmen are our problem here in Zamfara, only God can help us,” a resident of Dankurmi Village in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State Sahara reports.

A farmer in Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina said they now negotiated with bandits before they were allowed to harvest their crops.

He said about 45 farmers had been killed by bandits in the local government area alone in 2020.

“They send messages of attack to communities or tax us large amounts of money before they allow us to go to farm,” he said.

Meanwhile, some Nigerians on Twitter have corroborated the claims of the farmers.

“Bandits are collecting sum of N800,000 as tax from local farmers in Ɗan Kurmi under Maru LG of Zamfara, but social media bill and EndSARS protest is more important to Northern governors than insecurity,” @AM_Saleeem tweeted.

“Same with Yankara community under Faskari LG of Katsina State. Before they allow you harvest your crops, you’ve to negotiate with them and pay a minimum of N300,000. The bigger the farm, the higher the price. If you refuse to pay the ransom, they’ll burn the crops.

#SecureNorth,” Another Twitter user, Ibrahim Umar Rufa’i @khaliifa_Umar, said.

Zamfara and Katsina are the states most affected by terrorism and banditry in Nigeria’s North-West region.

Treasure Orokpo

A multi-talented individual with a passion for diverse fields, Treasure Orokpo is a trained journalist, skilled cook, and AI enthusiast. When she's not uncovering the latest stories, you can find her whipping up culinary creations in the kitchen and entertainment.

Recent Posts

Soaring rice prices threaten Christmas celebrations for Nigerian families

Rice, a staple for Christmas celebrations in Nigeria, has become a luxury this year. Soaring…

22 hours ago

Panic as Stage collapses during Odumodublvck’s performance at Lagos concert

Panic erupted on Saturday at a concert in Lagos when the stage collapsed during Odumodublvck’s…

22 hours ago

2025 Budget: FG allocates ₦6.36bn for renovation of Tinubu, Shettima’s official quarters

The Federal Government of Nigeria has allocated ₦6,364,181,224 billion for the refurbishment and rehabilitation of…

22 hours ago

Black Market Dollar to Naira Exchange Rate Today 22nd December 2024

The black market dollar to naira exchange rate for today, 22nd December 2024, can be…

22 hours ago

NNPC debunks shutdown rumors, confirms fuel loading at Port Harcourt Refinery

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has refuted claims that the 60,000 barrels per…

23 hours ago

‘We have to find a way’ – Guardiola laments after defeat to Aston Villa

Manchester City finds itself in unprecedented turmoil, with relegation-level form showing little sign of improvement.…

23 hours ago