Bandits in Zamfara State have reportedly been demanding ‘harvest fees’ from farmers before being permitted to enter their farms and harvest crops.
Some of the farmers affected expressed in Hausa language to BBC Hausa that they are forced to pay bandits to allow them access to their farms at the beginning of the planting season.
They stated that now that it’s time to harvest their crops, the bandits are demanding N300,000 – N900,000 per village.
According to sources who spoke to the publication, farmers are denied access to their farms if they do not pay these harvest fees.
The revelation has sparked reactions from many Nigerians on Twitter, expressing that the action of the bandits may be one of the reasons for the expensive cost of foodstuff in the markets.
They called on the Federal Government and Governor of the state, Bello Muhammad Matawalle to intervene and help the farmers take back their farms, which is their major source of livelihood.
Here is an audio of the farmers speaking to BBC in Hausa language below;
Barayin daji na daura wa mutane a jihar Zamfara haraji kafin su bar su su yi noma. Ta yaya za a magance matsalar tsaro a Arewa? pic.twitter.com/a6sMXStDWX
— BBC News Hausa (@bbchausa) November 11, 2020
See some reactions from Nigerians on Twitter below;
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.
— My Deen My Swag
(@AM_Saleeem) November 11, 2020
Zamfara bandits now charge “harvest fees” from farmers.
Where is that Social Medial Bill jare!
— Ayemojubar
(@ayemojubar) November 11, 2020
Northerners are the problems of Nigeria and it’s so heartbreaking that most important positions in the government are occupied by them
— Kachy Waya (@queen_kachy) November 12, 2020
Wht is the function of the policemen and soldiers in Zamfara + Sokoto state because they are neigbours, what is their governors saying? Are bandit also sponsored Bokoharam minor? Total joke
— Of Ikorodu (@Robyn_ace) November 12, 2020
Harvest money .. won’t buhari go and station security their so this guys can harvest peacefully
— Okoye paternoster (imo first SON
) (@OURFATHER_NG) November 12, 2020
They can’t arrest bandits but they can arrest and freeze protesters and their banks ,I won’t forgive those voted for this government
— APOSTLE KAY (@Apostlekay7) November 12, 2020
Nothing way Aboki no go see for gate. And the @PoliceNG and @HQNigerianArmy are still alive ooo. Chaii this life no balance at all.. So bandit now don turn tax collector for @MBuhari regime. May God and Allah help us in this remaining 3 years ooo
— Bob Zanta (@stanley_55006) November 12, 2020
And you want to tell me some northern elites no dey collect their cut from the money?…
Any terrorism wey pass 48hrs for any place, they Gov’t get hand inside—- Gen. Abacha
I come in peace
— #weNeedFixing (@Abbey0057) November 12, 2020
Wait, bandits have become tax collectors?? Pay up or we visit you in your farm. Bandits now collect N800K as tax from local farmers in Dan Kurmi, Maru LGA of Zamfara State. For now, the Northern governors are busy discussing #EndSARS & Social Media Regulation.
— NEFERTITI (@firstladyship) November 12, 2020
The situation in zamfara is getting worst day by day… Hw can bandits be negotiating with villagers to allow them harvest their farm? Where’s the DSS? Where’s the army/police? Is Buhari alive? Wat happen to the protection of lives and property?
What a government#SecureNorth pic.twitter.com/cB1QfNRU7k
— M A X A
Nigerian Government has apprehended & arrested Zakzaky and his wife for unlawful assembly & creating constitution Inside constitution, but bandits have seized a village in Zamfara, creating constitution & defining tax strategies for farmers & people. Yet, nothing has been done.
— jaybee (@jayB_10) November 12, 2020
Some villages in Zamfara pay a huge amount as tax to bandits to avoid being attacked and killed. They pay the sum of 800,000 naira or more.
Does Zamfara state have a governor? He should resign if he can’t save the lives of the people in the state. #EndInsecurity #SecureNorth
— Safiyanu
(@_Sufy2) November 11, 2020
Bandits in Zamfara & other northern states are asking for 300k – 900k from farmers before they will allow them harvest.
But northern governors believe social media is their biggest challenge.
And FG believes unarmed peaceful protesters are terrorists.
— nightmares
(@naiightt) November 12, 2020
Farming is no more our pride in Zamfara.
Because we can no longer go to our farms.
Armed bandits have taken away our pride.
We’re not safe in our houses & roads anymore.#EndInsecurity #SecureNorth— My Deen My Swag
We can be stupid all we want but Buhari don’t care about the North at all. Bandits stipulating taxes for farmers is the highest disorder ever witnessed in the north.
Federal govt should take zamfara seriously.
— Mr. error (@chachera88) November 12, 2020
“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”
What A Jungle Called Country!— Kenneth Obike (@obike_kenneth) November 11, 2020
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