‘You Will Get Killed Or Kidnapped’ – Bandits Ban Farming In Sokoto Communities, Demand Levies

Residents of at least 26 communities in the Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State have reportedly begun contributing money to pay fresh levies allegedly imposed by bandits before they will be allowed to access their farms.

The armed groups were said to have given the affected communities a three-day ultimatum, warning farmers not to go to their farmlands until the money demanded from them was paid.

The development comes ahead of the wet season farming period, raising concerns over food production and the safety of rural farmers in the area.

Residents said the bandits threatened to kill or abduct anyone found farming while the ultimatum was still in force.

According to Daily Trust, sources said the affected communities include Garin Faji, Cina Barka, Zululu, Dan Gari, Garin Maigayya, Gardi, Katsira, Garin Baushe, Sulmawa, Zakin Ganga, Dan Kware, Garje, Dogon Faru, Son Allah, Garin Galadima, Kafchi, Matabaya, Garin Labo, Zango, Kaifin Aska, Tsauna Dogo, Tudun Wada, Rambadawa, Ga Itace, Nasarawa and Garin Idi.

A resident who said he maintained close contact with people in the affected villages said the order had created fear among farmers who were preparing to begin planting.

“The communities were given three days. They said nobody should go to the farms until the money is paid. Anyone caught farming would either be killed or kidnapped and would not regain freedom until a ransom of ₦500,000 is paid,” he said.

He added that residents had already started contributing money to meet the demands.

‘We Were Warned Not To Farm’

A resident of Zululu village, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he was preparing to go to his farm on Friday when he heard about the directive.

He said the bandits had instructed residents to stop all farming activities for three days until the affected communities paid the levies.

“We were told that the bandits had banned farming activities for three days until the villages paid the levies they impose every year,” he said.

“They said they could have allowed people to go to their farms and then kill some and abduct others, but they wanted the money instead.

“According to them, security operatives have been seizing their livestock, insisting that no farming would take place until the levies were paid,” he added.

The resident said traditional rulers and Islamic clerics from the affected communities were expected to meet with the bandits to determine how much each village would pay.

According to him, the meeting would determine when residents could resume farming activities.

He said such payments had become a recurring burden on the communities, adding that the bandits often returned to make fresh demands even after previous levies had been paid.

“We pay before planting and sometimes every two or three months. Even after paying now, they may return in about three months and say nobody should harvest millet until another levy is paid,” he said.

“They usually demand between ₦4 million and ₦6 million from a community. Villagers contribute according to their means. Some households pay ₦1,500 or ₦2,000, while in some villages, farmers contribute as much as ₦5,000 each, depending on the population,” he added.

Another source, an indigene of Garin Idi village who currently resides in Sabon Birni town, said he visited the community on Friday to sympathise with residents after about 20 people were abducted in the early hours of the day.

He confirmed that the affected communities had already started raising money to pay the levies imposed by the bandits.

The source alleged that the attack on Garin Idi followed delays in raising the money demanded by the armed groups.

He said when the bandits felt the payments were being delayed, they invaded the village and abducted about 20 residents.

“They later told community leaders that ₦600,000 must be paid before the victims could be released. The money was raised and paid, leading to the release of the abductees on Friday,” he said.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in Sokoto State, DSP Ahmad Rufai, reportedly told journalists that the command was not aware of the development.

“We are not aware of such a situation. Most times, communities do not report these kinds of incidents to security agencies,” he said.

Also, the statement government had yet to comment on the development as of the time of filing this report, Naija News understands.

Residents said the restriction on farming could worsen hardship in the area if urgent action was not taken to secure the communities and allow farmers to cultivate their lands.

Many of the affected communities depend largely on farming for survival, and the ban has left residents worried about hunger, loss of income and further displacement.