Bandits demand N224m as farm levies in three years – report

At least N224m was demanded as farm levies – including planting and harvesting across the Northern region of the country between 2020 and 2023, worsening the current food insecurity in the country.

This sad reality was contained in a new report by a geopolitical research firm, S.B Morgen, where it stated that in the same period leading up to June 2024; at least 1,356 farmers were killed across the country, with most of the killings occurring in the North.

“These illegal tolls have made it difficult for farmers to access their farms and added to the mounting food insecurity exacerbated by factors such as an unstable currency.

“In early 2024, SBM found that no less than N139m was paid as farm levies (including planting and harvesting) to bandits who demanded at least N224m across the North between 2020 and 2023.”

The revelation, which was part of the report detailing the impact of the 10 days #EndBadGovernance protest and reasons for the severity of the protests in many northern states, affirmed that between July 2023 and June 2024, the North experienced significantly more kidnappings, with over 10 times the number of victims compared to the South.

The report noted that the region, responsible for supplying the country’s agricultural needs, their farmers had faced multiple taxes imposed by bandit warlords operating in rural areas.

“Bandits and kidnappers have taken over large swathes of territory in the Northwest and Central regions.

“The North has suffered more kidnappings between July 2023 and June 2024, with more than 10 times as many kidnap victims as the South. As the area that supplies the country with its agricultural needs, its farmers have been subjected to multiple taxations by bandit warlords operating in rural areas.

The report, which reflected a similar report earlier in the year, which stated that farmers in the North paid as much as N100, 000 to access their farms and harvest, added that insecurity, is the second most important issue facing farmers in the country, after poor road infrastructure

It added that the severe insecurity in Northwest, a key food-producing region, has far-reaching effects on the economy, which has resulted in increased food prices, a shortfall in food supply, and discourages further investment in agricultural venturest