ZAMFARA RESIDENTS: BANDITS COLLECTED N56M TO ALLOW FARMING THIS YEAR. (PHOTO).

 Zamfara residents: Bandits collected N56m to allow farming this year

Farmers in Dan Isa district, Kaura Namoda local government area of Zamfara state say bandits have threatened them this rainy season.

Confirming the development to Daily Trust in a telephone conversation, the Ward Head of the area, Malam Hassan Yarima, said each of the 35 villages under his district paid N800,000 before residents were allowed to farm.

“Each village will also pay another N800,000 to allow its residents to harvest their crops. This is the agreement we have reached with the bandits’ leader in-charge of this area, Dan Sadiya.”

“I am only talking about my district; I don’t know what residents of other districts paid to the bandits this year. But one thing I am sure of is that residents have to pay before they are allowed to farm.

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“We do not have any option but to comply with his directives, otherwise, the bandits will not allow us to cultivate our farms. At least when we farm, we can get something for our families,” he said.

However, Yarima lamented that despite paying the farming fees, bandits still invaded their villages to rustle livestock and loot food supplies.

He regretted that residents of the affected communities had exhausted all their resources in efforts to maintain peace with the bandits.

“We want to leave in peace with the bandits but sincerely speaking they have collected everything from us. They rustled our animals and carted away with our money, farm produce and other belongings.

“They visit our villages every week and on every visit, we have to gather some money, foodstuffs and provisions items to give them. Sometimes, after collecting these items, they will pick some women and go with them,” he said.