Bandits Impose N10 Million Levy On Kaduna Farmers
Plea to President Tinubu for Enhanced Security Measures
The Birnin-Gwari communities in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State are facing a dire situation as bandits have imposed a hefty N10 million levy on local farmers.
The bandits have given the farmers an ultimatum: either pay the exorbitant fine or abandon their farming activities for the year. This alarming development was revealed by Mr. Ishaq Usman Kasai, the chairman of the Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressive Union (BEPU).
In a statement made available to DAILY POST, he called upon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently address the escalating security challenges in the council and throughout Kaduna State, seeking the restoration of peace.
Unprecedented Levies and Threats Paralyze Agricultural Communities
The situation in Birnin-Gwari has reached an alarming level, with bandits intensifying their grip on the local farming communities.
Mr. Kasai expressed deep concern over the bandits’ imposition of levies on farming communities in the area. This week, three farming communities—Sabon-Layi, Tashar Keji, and Ruwan Rana—were targeted, with the bandits demanding a staggering N10 million from each community.
The bandits issued a three-day deadline, set to expire on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, leaving the communities in a state of distress. Failure to comply with the demand may result in violent attacks on the affected communities.
Impacts on Livelihoods and Humanitarian Crisis
The continuous insecurity and atrocities committed by the bandits have severely impacted the people of Birnin-Gwari.
The chairman highlighted the grim reality faced by the locals, stating that kidnappings and killings by bandits occur on a daily basis. The local economy, heavily dependent on agriculture, has been crippled by these criminal activities.
The prevailing insecurity has prevented people from accessing their farmlands, disrupting farming activities. Moreover, the closure of schools and the halting of transportation have further compounded the challenges faced by the community.
Women and children are forced to become Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), adding to the growing humanitarian crisis. Mr. Kasai shared a recent incident in which Dadin Kowa village was attacked and displaced by bandits armed with various firearms.
