Residents of at least 26 communities in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State have begun contributing money to pay levies imposed by terrorists who have also barred them from accessing their farmlands ahead of the wet season farming activities.
Residents said the armed groups issued a three-day ultimatum, warning farmers not to visit their farms until the demanded levies were paid.
According to the Arise News, the affected communities reportedly 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 familiar with developments in the affected communities said the bandits threatened to kill or abduct anyone found farming during the restriction period.
“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 N500,000 is paid,” the source said.
According to residents, contributions have already commenced to meet the demands.
A resident of Zululu village said the communities were informed that farming activities would remain suspended until the levies were paid.
“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.
The resident added that the bandits claimed security operatives had been confiscating their livestock and insisted that no farming would take place until the money was paid.
He said traditional rulers and Islamic clerics from the affected communities were expected to meet with the bandits to determine how much each village would contribute before farming could resume.
According to him, the payments have become a recurring burden on residents.
“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.
The source added that the bandits usually demand between N4 million and N6 million from each community, with contributions collected from households and farmers according to their means.
Another resident from Garin Idi village alleged that the bandits abducted about 20 people on Friday after becoming dissatisfied with delays in the payment of the levies.
According to the source, the attackers later demanded N600,000 for the release of the victims, and the money was subsequently raised and paid, leading to their freedom.
He, however, claimed that five other persons remain in captivity.
The resident further alleged that farmers are often compelled to surrender part of their harvest to the bandits before being allowed to store their produce.
“Every year, after harvesting, they demand part of the produce from farmers before allowing them to store their crops. This has become a recurring burden on our communities,” he said.
Reacting to the development, the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said the command was not aware of the situation.
“We are not aware of such a situation. Most times, communities do not report these kinds of incidents to security agencies,” he said.
