The farming season has begun once again, but for many communities in Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Yobe, and other northern states affected by banditry, it is a period of fear and loss rather than hope and gain.
Previous reports have shown how armed bandits imposed illegal “farming taxes” on struggling farmers trying to provide food for their families.
In June, bandits reportedly asked residents of Kwandawa community in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State to pay a N20 million levy or vacate their village and farmlands.
It was alleged that the levy was imposed following the killing of one of the bandits’ members.
Also in June, residents of about 26 communities in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State began contributing towards the payment of fresh levies imposed by bandits, who had stopped them from accessing their farms ahead of the farming season.
Reports claimed that the armed groups issued a three-day ultimatum, warning farmers not to visit their farmlands until their demands were fully met.
Also in June, armed groups operating in parts of Kano and Katsina states reportedly extorted farmers, demanding up to N50,000 per acre from sugarcane growers before harvest. It was alleged that they had established a parallel system of governance in many forest reserves in the region.
The growing insecurity has raised concerns about its impact on food production across the country.
The Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kano State chapter, Abdullahi Ali Mai Biredi, told DAILY POST that persistent attacks on farmers are contributing to food shortages in northern Nigeria.
According to him, small-scale farmers are the backbone of the country’s food supply.
“These small-scale farmers producing 10 to 15 bags are the ones providing food for Nigeria, not those who produce 500 to 1,000 bags.”
Mai Biredi warned that preventing farmers from accessing their farmlands would reduce food production and worsen food insecurity.
“Now, if these farmers cannot go to their farms because of insecurity, there will be a shortage of food, and food scarcity causes problems.”
He added that food shortages could also fuel insecurity.
“Shortages of food also cause insecurity.”
Despite the challenges, the AFAN chairman commended the government and security agencies for improving security in some farming areas.
“But this time, we must thank the government and security personnel because they were ready to ensure security in some of the areas plagued by insecurity that prevents farming.”
He noted that farming activities have resumed in border communities between Kano and Katsina states, where many farmers have started preparing their land for cultivation.
Mai Biredi also called for efforts to address the root causes of insecurity.
“These people causing insecurity, we pray to God to make them better people. If they have a problem, the government should ensure it looks into their complaints because insecurity has caused huge damage in Nigeria.”
Efforts to obtain comments from the Katsina State Ministries of Agriculture, Information, and Internal Security were unsuccessful, as the ministries had yet to respond at the time of filing this report.
