Farmers in selected communities of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State have been reportedly given a new tax scheme by bandits, before being allowed to access their farmlands.
According to Arewa Trust Weekly, Birnin Gwari is one of five LGAs in Kaduna where banditry continues to pose a challenge to government and security agencies. The other LGAs are Giwa, Chikun, Igabi and Kajuru.
A resident of Dogon Dawa, Hamza Isa also told Daily Trust that bandits had sent emissaries to inform selected communities including Dogo Dawa, of the new tax scheme.
Isa said;
“At the first instance, they have asked us to pay N10m before we access our farmlands. The communities affected include Dogon Dawa, Saulawa, Rafin Tukurwa, Damari and surrounding communities. We have been denied any opportunity to clear our lands to prepare for the farming season.”
Another victim of the new tax scheme is one Ibrahim Hamisu from Damari. He told the publication that most residents of Damari were still taking refuge in Dogon Dawa due to attacks.
Hamisu said;
“Many of our people are yet to return home and they cannot access their farms. Now the bandits are asking us to pay them N10m before we can access our farms, where are we expected to get the money from?”