In Niger, Bandits Give Farmers Condition

Farming communities of Niger State are on edge as bandits and terrorists have imposed heavy levies and taxes on residents.

Beyond paying levies and taxes, residents told Weekend Trust that terrorists also force men out of their rooms to allow them spend the night with their wives and daughters as a precondition for allowing them to remain in the communities and continue farming.

Residents from the affected communities in Borgu, Mariga, Shiroro and other security-affected local government areas told our correspondent that the rainy season is almost halfway through but they are yet to plant crops.

The victims said they agreed to pay the levies and taxes imposed on them and allow terrorists to sleep with their wives and daughters when demanded, even though these demands have added a financial burden to their difficulties in purchasing farm inputs, just to gain access to their farms and earn a living.

In Shiroro Local Government Area, for instance, one of the farmers told our correspondent that apart from Galadima-Kogo, Bassa and Erena, any other community or village where residents currently live and farm freely in the hinterland pays levies and taxes.

According to him, terrorists tax communities and villages whenever they wish or ask men to release their women to them for sex in exchange for the freedom to access farmlands and cultivate crops.

“Honestly speaking, apart from Galadima-Kogo, Erena and Bassa, any other community or village where residents still live and go about their businesses in the hinterland of Shiroro Local Government Area has achieved that by paying levies and taxes. Even villages around Erena have resorted to paying taxes. These levies and taxes are paid every year, and sometimes the terrorists do not wait for the year to end. They come whenever they wish or whenever they need money and force communities and villages to contribute.

“If residents complain about lack of money, the terrorists demand sex from girls until the residents raise the money for them. During the rainy season, they prevent us from accessing our farms until the levies and taxes are paid. Moreover, the levies are not fixed; they demand whatever amount they choose at any given time.

“Apart from Galadima-Kogo, Erena and Bassa, most villages and communities in the hinterland pay levies and taxes.

“Our married women are raped in exchange for access farms. Sometimes, a terrorist approaches a husband and orders him to leave his wife with him for the night, and that order must be obeyed,” he said.

Farmers lamented that the practice is discouraging cultivation, reducing agricultural output and undermining food security in a state widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s key food-producing zones.

The situation has been compounded in recent times by renewed attacks on rural communities across parts of the state, forcing many farmers to abandon their homes and farmlands in search of safety.

In several affected farming communities in Borgu, Mariga, Mashegu, among others, residents reported recurring attacks and kidnappings that have completely disrupted farming activities and displaced entire households.

Findings by Weekend Trust revealed that on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at least 10 farmers lost their lives during an attack on Old-Gangale community in Borgu Local Government Area.

Those killed included traditional rulers. Among them were Wazirin Gangale; Mohammed Abubakar; Garkuwan Gangale, Alhaji Nuhu Umar; and the village head of Tungan Akare, Zakariyau Salihu. Others were Anas Salihu; Hashimu Isah; Sanusi Muazu; Musa Adamu (Ladan); Yakubu Isah; Ismail Isah and Kasimu Kambari.

Dozens of others, including women and children, have been displaced and are currently taking refuge in Baki Rafi in Kebbi State and some locations in Benin Republic, while some fled to stay with relatives in Bussa.

One of the displaced farmers in Borgu Local Government Area, Mallam Awwal Ibrahim, told our correspondent that several farming communities with a history of producing farm produce in commercial quantities have been completely deserted.

He listed the affected communities as Konkoso; Pissa; Kasuwan-Daji; Tsohon-Gangale; Sabon-Gangale; Buriya; Tunga-Aljana; Sefeluna; Kokani, Adahe, among others.

He added that parts of some farming communities remain inhabited though residents live in fear of attacks. He listed such communities as Tunga-Zana; Kabe; Sokonbara; Kanu; Papiri; Zatenna; Wawa; Gada-Oli; Mago; Shafaci; Audu-Fari, among others.

Several markets closed

In Borgu Local Government Area alone, several markets once known as international grain hubs have been recently forced to close due to renewed attacks, kidnapping and imposition of heavy levies and taxes on traders and farmers.

Alhaji Adamu Idris, one of the displaced farmers, told Weekend Trust that: “We live in fear and abject poverty. No good social amenities available for us. We can no longer cultivate our land for food because the farms have been hijacked by killer bandits and terrorists. They have burnt our communities.

“We are not living a life here. We are simply surviving, slightly. Everything in the land seems to be working against us and our dreams. But the government doesn’t tell our story to the world as they are. Every day, we hear the government denying attacks on our communities. We leave everything to Allah. This is the second time Dekara District is paying N10 million tax to bandits.”

He said the affected communities produced maize, rice, beans, millet, sorghum, groundnut and soya beans in commercial quantities. They also rear cattle, sheep, rams and goats in large quantities and supply to Lagos and Ibadan in the southern part of Nigeria.

Why we stopped planting tall crops 

Farmers in Mariga Local Government Area told Weekend Trust that they had stopped planting crops that grow tall, such as guinea corn, maize and millet. To them, these tall crops provide cover for terrorists during attacks.

Mallam Kabiru Ustaz told our correspondent that terrorists only approve Tuesdays and Fridays for movement from Bangi town to Bena, one of the major agricultural hubs in the area.

“Bangi market holds every Wednesday. So, they allow traders from Bena to attend Bangi market because levies have been paid. However, we are not allowed to attend Bena market because we have refused to pay the levies,” he said.

Residents of Karanbana community in Mariga Local Government Area recently paid N40 million levies before they were allowed to access their farms.

“We chose to pay the levy because we had nowhere to go for farming. We also don’t have any other means of livelihood apart from farming. If we refuse to pay and they attack us, where do we go to? It is better to pay levies and be allowed to stay than being attacked and living somewhere as hopeless citizens,” a resident in the area told Weekend Trust on the condition of anonymity

Farmers seek gov’t’s protection 

The affected communities have called on the federal and state governments to come to their aid and protect them and their livelihood.

Residents of communities in Borgu Local Government Area told Weekend Trust that between December 2025 and June 2026, more than 12 villages in Anindita District and Babanna Development Council alone were attacked and razed; hence they have been deserted.

The communities are Boiya; Bakembala; Sokonbara; Kasuwa-Daji; Konkoso; Safeluna; Wawa; Tunga-Makeri; Tunga-Aljanna; Pissa; Kabe.

Others include Old-Gangale; New-Gangale; Kigbera; Zatenna; Degedena; Raba-Garo; Sabi-Dogo.

The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Obed Nuhu Nana speaking to Weekend Trust said security agencies were working in collaboration with local authorities and community stakeholders to contain the situation and forestall the spread of criminal activities in the affected communities.

“Security presence has also been reinforced in the area, while surveillance and intelligence-driven operations continue across vulnerable locations within the state”, he said.

The Commissioner emphasised that the Niger State Government remains resolute in its determination to confront all forms of criminality and will continue to support security agencies with the resources and coordination required to safeguard lives and property.

The government urged members of the public to remain calm, cooperate with security agencies and rely on verified information from official sources.

“Niger State Government remains committed to the security and well-being of all residents and will continue to take proactive measures to ensure lasting peace across the state”, he added. (Daily trust)