Bandits Enforce ₦50,000 Per Acre ‘Farm Taxes’ in Kano, Katsina

News in brief:

-Bandits allegedly demand ₦50,000 per acre from farmers in Kano and Katsina forests.

-Disruptions to farming could affect food supply across northern Nigeria.

Armed groups operating in parts of Kano and Katsina states are allegedly extorting farmers, demanding up to ₦50,000 per acre from sugarcane growers ahead of harvest.

Residents say the groups are entrenching a parallel system of governance within key forest reserves, imposing levies and threatening violence against farmers who refuse to comply.

According to community reports, the armed groups have established strongholds within Rugu Forest in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State and Falgore Forest in Doguwa Local Government Area of Kano State.

From these locations, they reportedly regulate farming activities, collect illegal taxes and enforce compliance through intimidation and threats.

Farmers Abandon Farmlands Amid Threats

Farmers who fail to pay the demanded levies are said to face destruction of crops, harassment and the risk of violent attacks.

While sugarcane growers are the primary targets, residents said maize production has also been affected, with some farmers abandoning their fields entirely to avoid reprisals.

An activist, Bakatsine, who posts under the X handle @DanKatsina50, said the affected forests fall within the Kano–Katsina food belt, a major agricultural corridor supplying markets such as Dawanau Market in Kano.

Security sources and residents also noted that the armed groups operate within five kilometres of military and police checkpoints along the Falgore Road, raising questions about the effectiveness of security deployments in the area.

Food Security Risks and Rising Prices

Experts warned that sustained disruption to farming activities in the region could trigger food shortages and drive up prices across northern Nigeria, given the strategic role of the area in supplying staple crops.

Residents described the situation as a gradual takeover, with armed actors enforcing rules, collecting levies and exercising control over daily economic life with little resistance.

The reports come amid controversy surrounding the Katsina State government’s decision to facilitate the release of 70 persons detained over suspected banditry-related activities.

Speaking on a live programme, the commissioner for internal security and home affairs, Nasir Muazu, said the releases were part of peace agreements with groups described as repentant bandits across at least 15 local government areas.

Muazu said the agreements had led to the release of about 1,000 abducted persons, arguing that the approach prioritised stability and the return of hostages.

Legal Concerns Over Ongoing Extortion

The policy has drawn criticism from legal experts and civil society groups, who warn that releasing suspects accused of serious crimes could undermine the rule of law.

Those concerns have been amplified by continued reports of farm extortion and armed group activity in rural communities.

As of press time, no official response had been issued by the Kano or Katsina state governments or by security agencies regarding the reported farm levies.