Pay Us 20 Million naira Or Forget About Farm Harvest , Terrorist Tells Nigeria Farmers

Pay Us 20 Million naira Or Forget About Farm Harvest , Terrorist Tells Nigeria Farmers 

Residents of Katakawa community in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State are living in renewed fear and frustration as terrorists have reportedly imposed a ₦20 million levy on local farmers before they are allowed to access their farmlands.

According to reliable local sources, the gunmen, who have been terrorizing parts of Katsina for years, announced the new levy during a meeting with community representatives, warning that anyone who fails to comply will face dire consequences.

Farmers in Katakawa, a largely agrarian community known for cultivating maize, millet, and groundnuts, said the terrorists’ demand has thrown them into a state of despair, especially at a time when many are struggling to recover from previous attacks and economic hardship.

A resident who spoke under anonymity told Glintnews that the bandits have effectively taken over control of the farmlands in the area.

 “They told us that if we want to farm this season, every farmer must contribute to raise ₦20 million for them. They said that’s the only way we can be allowed to go back to our farms. Many of us don’t even have money to eat, talk more of paying terrorists,” the source lamented.

The new development comes months after the Katakawa community reportedly entered into a so-called peace agreement with the terrorists in a desperate bid to restore safety and normal life. A photo that went viral earlier in the year showed the village head and other community leaders seated with heavily armed gunmen during the peace talks.

Despite that gesture, the attacks and intimidation never stopped. Residents say the terrorists have continued to raid homes, rustle cattle, and kidnap people for ransom. Now, with the latest imposition of a “farming tax,” locals fear they may be forced into hunger as the farming season draws to a close.

“They deceived us with the peace deal. After the photo went viral, they became more powerful. Now, they are dictating who farms, who travels, and who pays. We are living under their control,” another resident said bitterly.

Community sources added that some farmers who attempted to defy the terrorists’ order have already been threatened or attacked, forcing others to flee to neighboring villages or the Kankara town for safety.

Security analysts have expressed concern over the growing trend of criminal gangs imposing levies on rural communities in the North-West. They warn that such acts signify a total collapse of local governance and could worsen food insecurity across the region.

A security expert based in Kaduna, Mr. Bala Yusuf, said that the development reflects a broader pattern of “criminal taxation” that has become common in parts of Katsina, Zamfara, and Niger States.

 “The government needs to treat this as a serious security and humanitarian crisis. When citizens are forced to pay bandits to access their own farms, it means the terrorists are now acting as the de facto authority in those areas,” he said.

Efforts to get a response from the Katsina State Police Command and local government officials were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report. However, residents continue to appeal to both state and federal authorities to intervene urgently and restore peace in the area.