By Desire Emmanuel
The killings and atrocities being carried out in the northern part of the country seem to be unending as some bandits are said to have demanded up to N5 million as ‘harvest fees’ from some villagers in Zamfara State before they could be allowed to harvest their produce on their farmlands.
In fact, in some instances, after the villages have made the payment, some of the bandits still go ahead to let their cattle graze on the farmlands, thereby destroying some of the crops due to be harvested.
Some of the villages where the bandits made the demand include Dokolo, Bilbis, Daji, Yan Doton Daji, Yankuzo, Kizara, Magazu and Keta.
Impeccable sources close to the government circle told Impact Nigeria News Online that farmers and other residents at various villages in Tsafe Local Government Area of the state are always under panic and are at the mercy of the bandits.
The sources disclosed that the bandits approached the heads of the villages and told them that if their farmers wanted to have access to their farmlands, each village should pay between N3.5 million and N5 million as ‘harvest fees.’
Some of the farmers were however quoted as saying after they had gathered the money in their villages and made the payment, when they get to their farmlands, the bandits cattle would have grazed on the farms and destroyed the crops.
They added that they dare not complain whenever they see such devastation as doing so could cost them their lives.
Some of them were said to have made secret calls to security agencies but they have not received any favourable response from them, making the villagers to continue living in perpetual fears.
As of the time of this report, neither the state government nor any security agencies has reached out to the villagers regarding their situation in the hands of the bandits.
