Bandits terrorising communities in the North-West region of Nigeria have reportedly imposed a ₦20 million levy on farmers in Gatakawa village, Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The development was revealed on Wednesday by Bakatsine, a conflict and crisis journalist who reports on insecurity in the region.
According to him, the armed groups are demanding the levy from farmers before granting them access to harvest their crops.
Bakatsine condemned the ongoing peace deal between bandits and local communities, arguing that it has only worsened the plight of farmers and deepened fear in the region.
He wrote on X, “BREAKING: Bandits have reportedly imposed a ₦20 million levy on Gatakawa farmers before allowing them to harvest their crops — a chilling sign of deepening insecurity in the North West.
“For many farmers in Kankara LGA, the so-called peace deal has only brought deeper fear. Families now sell their belongings or borrow money just to pay bandits before entering their farmlands.
“Beyond the human toll, such extortion threatens food security and erodes public confidence in the authorities’ ability to protect rural communities.”
