Residents of at least 26 communities in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State have started pooling money to pay fresh levies demanded by bandits who have also barred them from going to their farms ahead of the wet season.
Residents told Daily Trust that the armed groups issued a three‑day ultimatum, warning farmers not to visit their farmlands until the levies demanded from the affected communities were paid.
The affected communities 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 who keeps close contact with people in the villages said the bandits threatened to kill or abduct anyone found farming during the 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,” he said.
He said residents had already started contributing money.
A resident of Zululu, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he was preparing to go to his farm on Friday when he learnt of the directive.
“We were told that the bandits had banned farming activities for three days until the villages paid the levies they impose every year.
“They said they could have allowed people to go to their farms and then kill some and abduct others, but they wanted the money instead. According to them, security operatives have been seizing their livestock, so no farming would take place until the levies were paid,” he said.
Traditional rulers and Islamic clerics are expected to meet the bandits to set village payments before farming can resume. The source said communities have paid like this for years.
“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.
“They usually demand between N4 million and N6 million from a community. Villagers contribute according to their means. Some households pay N1,500 or N2,000, while in some villages farmers contribute as much as N5,000 each depending on the population,” he said.
Another source from Garin Idi, now in Sabon Birni town, said about 20 people were abducted early Friday when payments lagged. He alleged the bandits “later told community leaders that N600,000 must be paid before the victims could be released. The money was raised and paid, leading to the release of the abductees on Friday,” he said.
He added five people remain captive.
“As of now, there are still five people in their custody. They said they will not release them until the levy is paid. Even after farming, they may still prevent people from harvesting until fresh payments are made,” he said.
He also alleged farmers often surrender part of their harvest before storing.
“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.
When contacted, Sokoto Police PPRO DSP Ahmad Rufai said: “We are not aware of such a situation. Most times, communities do not report these kinds of incidents to security agencies,” he said.
