Farmers in Northern Nigeria Face Extortion Amid Insecurity

Farmers in northern Nigeria are increasingly threatened by armed groups demanding taxes, which is severely impacting food production. Reports indicate that in June, bandits extorted N20 million from residents of Kwandawa Community in Malumfashi Local Government Area, Katsina State.

Additionally, residents of 26 communities in Sabon Birni Local Government Area, Sokoto State, began contributing to payments to these armed groups to regain access to their farmland. The armed groups issued a three-day ultimatum, warning farmers not to visit their farms until their demands were met.

Abdullahi Ali Mai Biredi, Chairman of the Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Kano State, stated that persistent attacks on farmers contribute to food shortages in northern Nigeria. Small-scale farmers, who are crucial to the country's food supply, are producing significantly less due to insecurity.

Biredi called for efforts to address the root causes of insecurity, emphasizing the need for government intervention to ensure farmers can safely access their lands.