Bandits Threaten To Tax Farmers Before Allowing Them To Harvest Their Crops In Niger

Bandits have reportedly threatened to tax farmers before allowing them to harvest their crops in the Atabo and Magama local government areas of Niger State.

Bandits Threaten To Tax Niger Farmers Before Harvest

According to Daily Post, farmers in both communities are living in fear over an alleged threat by bandits to stop them from harvesting their crops unless they pay taxes to them.

A source revealed that bandits made the threat after attacking Atabo community and kidnapping the village head, Alhaji Mairabo, and his younger brother, popularly called Usman.

The source explained that the younger brother is being held by the abductors, but the village head was released to warn all farmers in the area that they will have to pay their taxes to the bandits before they can be allowed to harvest the crops.

The source further explained, “They released the village head on Wednesday and he was told to inform the family of his younger brother to pay N7 million ransom.

“They also told him that if this ransom was not paid on time, they would not allow us to harvest our crops this dry season until we pay tax. As I speak with you, some people have fled their homes since Tuesday’s attack.”

He appealed to the federal and Niger State governments to assist the area with security operatives to help harvest their crops.

KanyiDaily had also reported how some bandits arrested a scavenger with stolen items and handed him over to the authorities in Katsina State.