Farmers in Dan Isa district of Kaura Namoda Local Government Area, Zamfara State, have said that they are being forced to pay bandits to access their farmlands this rainy season.
Speaking to Daily Trust via telephone, the Ward Head of the area, Malam Hassan Yarima, confirmed that all 35 villages under his district were compelled to pay N800,000 each to be allowed to farm.
“Each village will also pay another N800,000 to allow its residents to harvest their crops. This is the agreement we have reached with the bandits’ leader in-charge of this area, Dan Sadiya.
“I am only talking about my district; I don’t know what residents of other districts paid to the bandits this year. But one thing I am sure of is that residents have to pay before they are allowed to farm,” he said.
Yarima explained that villagers had no choice but to comply with the demands of the armed groups in order to cultivate their lands and provide food for their families.
“We do not have any option but to comply with his directives, otherwise, the bandits will not allow us to cultivate our farms. At least when we farm, we can get something for our families,” he said.
Despite the payments, he lamented that the bandits continue to attack their communities, steal livestock, loot food supplies, and extort more money and provisions.
“We want to live in peace with the bandits but sincerely speaking they have collected everything from us. They rustled our animals and carted away with our money, farm produce and other belongings.
“They visit our villages every week and on every visit, we have to gather some money, foodstuffs and provision items to give them. Sometimes, after collecting these items, they will pick some women and go with them,” he said.
