Rural communities in Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State are facing renewed pressure from heavily armed bandit groups, as residents report being compelled to pay millions of naira in levies before they are allowed to harvest their crops.
According to local sources, farmers in Durkai, Honkarhe, Makwa and Kiluta communities have been subjected to a series of illegal demands by criminal gangs who now control access to farmlands.
The breakdown of the levies shows:
Durkai community — ₦5 million
Honkarhe community — ₦5 million
Makwa community — ₦9 million
Kiluta community — ₦5 million
Residents also lament a worsening economic burden, alleging that the bandits have imposed new prices on motorcycles within the area, forcing the cost of a Honda bike to as high as ₦1.7 million, far above market value.
The communities are calling on the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, to urgently intervene and restore security, warning that many farmers may abandon their lands if the situation persists.
Local observers describe the development as part of a growing pattern in which bandits impose “taxes” on rural dwellers, restricting farming activities and worsening food insecurity in the North-West.
The residents are now asking critical questions:
How long can these communities survive under these harsh conditions?
When will real security protection reach Nigeria’s rural farmers?
The situation, first highlighted in a Bakastine report, has intensified concerns over the safety of agrarian communities across Zamfara and neighbouring states.
LeadNaija News will continue to monitor developments.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
