Armed bandits in Zamfara State are now imposing levies on farmers in the State and threatening them to pay before they would be allowed to harvest their farms.
According to reports, farmers in the state have suffered a series of assaults by the armed bandits, especially when they attempt to work on their farms. For some farmers and their farmlands who have survived the bandits’ onslaught, heavy levies are being imposed on the farmers before they can harvest their crops.
Recall that in 2015, the armed bandits, tagged: ‘Noma Haram’ wrote farmers in Dansadau district of Maru local government area, warning them to stay away from farms or face dire consequences.
Dozens of farmers have been killed as hundreds of hectres of farmlands remain uncultivated. Most of the slain victims were trapped on their farmlands and got killed.
Residents of Anka LGA narrated how the gunmen keep slamming levies on them either to avoid attack or be allowed to harvest farm produce. Similarly, in Kawaye district of Anka LGA of the state, dozens of hectres of farmlands remain uncultivated as farmers have abandoned them for fear of being killed or kidnapped.
In Dansadau, a district with very fertile land for crop farming, the story is the same; the armed criminals have slammed levies on many farming communities as a precondition for them to attend to their farms. Most of the residents of these communities, our correspondent learnt, have fled.
Most of the farmers have expressed their fears over the likelihood of serious shortage of food unless something is done to address the problem.
When contacted, the Spokesman of the State’s Police Command, SP Muhammad Shehu, said the Command is aware of such threats, but enjoined the communities to desist from entering into such negotiations without informing the relevant authorities.
