Northern farmers face bandit taxes threatening food production
Northern farmers face bandit taxes threatening food production. In June, bandits demanded a N20 million levy from residents of Kwandawa community in Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State, after killing one of their members. Around the same time, residents of about 26 communities in Sabon Birni LGA, Sokoto State, began paying fresh levies after armed groups issued a three-day ultimatum to stay off farms ahead of the planting season. In parts of Kano and Katsina, sugarcane growers were extorted up to N50,000 per acre before harvest, with armed groups reportedly running a parallel administration in forest reserves.
Abdullahi Ali Mai Biredi, chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria's Kano chapter, said small-scale farmers who produce 10-15 bags each are the backbone of Nigeria's food supply. He warned that blocked farm access cuts output, worsens food shortages and can fuel further insecurity. He also noted that security has improved in some border areas between Kano and Katsina, allowing farmers to resume land preparation, while urging authorities to address the root causes of banditry.
Will improved security hold long enough for farmers to recover their losses, or will they need alternative livelihoods to survive?