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Bandits tax Kaduna farmers N10m to access farm lands

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Kaduna begins four-day working week as workers stay home Fridays

 

Bandits in some communities of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State have reportedly set a new tax regime for farmers, before they can have access to their farms.

Birnin Gwari is one of five LGAs in Kaduna where banditry has continued to pose a challenge to government and security agencies. The other LGAs are Giwa, Chikun, Igabi and Kajuru.

According to Arewa Trust Weekly, a resident of Dogon Dawa, Hamza Isa, confirmed that the bandits had already sent their agents to inform selected communities, including Dogo Dawa, of the new tax scheme.

“At the first instance, they have asked us to pay N10 million before we access our farmlands. The communities affected include Dogon Dawa, Saulawa, Rafin Tukurwa, Damari and surrounding communities. We have been denied any opportunity to clear our lands to prepare for the farming season,” Isa said.

On his part, Ibrahim Hamisu of Damari said that most residents of Damari were still taking refuge in Dogon Dawa due to attacks.

READ: JUST IN: Bandits kill Emir of Kontagora’s son Bashar

“Many of our people are yet to return home and they cannot access their farms. Now the bandits are asking us to pay them N10 million before we can access our farms, where are we expected to get the money from?” he asked rhetorically.

Last month, farmers in mostly Birnin Gwari, Chikun, Giwa and Kajuru raised the alarm that they might not be able to farm in 2021 due to killings and constant threats by bandits. The farmers had narrated how bandits killed mostly male farmers and stole their motorcycles either on their farms or while on their way to their farms.

“This year, the situation is worse. They have prevented us from even clearing our farms in anticipation of the farming season. Many people have decided not to farm this year, and we fear that there will be food scarcity,” said Shehu Isiya of Fatika District in Giwa LGA.

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