Bandits impose ₦40 million levy on farmers in Kebbi communities
Unless ₦40-million ‘levy’ is paid in full to armed groups in Kebbi State, farmers would be denied access to their farmlands, bandits said in a new order. Several communities in Bena, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State are affected.
Bakastine, a security analyst and crisis journalist, posted this on his X handle an hour ago.
Many families in the affected areas are already on the run for fear of possible surprising attacks, Daily Post reported. Others, who lack other options, stayed – awaiting the worst.
The demand highlights a recurring pattern in North-West where various armed groups take turns to impose levies on rural communities before farming activities begin. The people are already getting used to paying the levies. In local parlance, they call it “peaceful arrangements”, or “taxation”.
However, it has been gathered that the so-called “peaceful arrangements” have repeatedly failed to guarantee peace. But this brings up the question of control.
“If farmers must pay bandits before cultivating their land, who truly controls these communities?” Bakastine asked in the post. Security analysts have since cautioned on the overall implications of paying terrorists in this form. One major drawback is that armed groups might proliferate while existing ones would be emboldened.