Farmers in the Dan Isa district of Kaura Namoda Local Government Area, Zamfara State, are facing a dire situation as bandits demand hefty payments to allow them access to their farmlands during this rainy season.
According to Malam Hassan Yarima, the Ward Head of the district, each of the 35 villages under his jurisdiction is being coerced into paying N800,000 to cultivate their fields, with an additional N800,000 required to harvest their crops.
Speaking to Daily Trust via telephone, Yarima revealed that the payments are part of an agreement with a notorious bandit leader, Dan Sadiya, who controls the area.
“Every village in my district must pay N800,000 to farm and another N800,000 to harvest.
This is the condition set by the bandits’ leader,” he said. Yarima clarified that his information pertains only to his district, and other areas in Zamfara may face similar or different extortion demands.
The ward head explained that farmers have no choice but to comply with these demands to feed their families.
“We are left with no option but to follow their directives. If we don’t pay, they won’t let us farm, and at least by farming, we can provide something for our families,” Yarima stated.
However, he lamented that even after making these payments, bandits continue to terrorize the communities, attacking villages, stealing livestock, looting food supplies, and extorting additional money and goods.
“They come to our villages every week, demanding money, foodstuffs, and provisions. Sometimes, they even abduct our women after collecting these items,” Yarima said, highlighting the relentless exploitation faced by residents.
The ongoing banditry has left communities in fear, with farmers struggling to maintain their livelihoods under the constant threat of violence and theft.
