Fear Grips Kebbi Farming Communities as Armed Groups Demand ₦40m Levy

Fear has gripped farming communities in Kebbi State after armed groups reportedly demanded ₦40 million before farmers could access their farmlands, raising concerns over insecurity and agricultural disruption.

Panic has spread across several farming communities in Bena, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State after armed groups reportedly demanded ₦40 million from farmers before allowing them access to their farmlands ahead of the planting season.

The development was disclosed on Saturday by security analyst and crisis journalist Bakastine in a post on X, where he raised alarm over the growing vulnerability of rural communities in the region.

According to reports, the demand has forced fear among residents, with some families reportedly abandoning their homes while others remain uncertain about returning to their farmlands for the farming season.

Sources from the affected communities say the situation has intensified existing insecurity in the area, which has experienced repeated incidents involving armed groups and limited security presence.

Residents and observers note that similar patterns have emerged in parts of Nigeria’s North-West, where armed groups impose levies on rural communities before farming activities can commence. These arrangements are often described locally as “taxation” or “peace agreements,” though they are widely considered coercive.

Security analysts warn that such practices, if unchecked, could further entrench the influence of armed groups, deepen fear among rural populations, and disrupt agricultural productivity in already fragile food-producing regions.

There are concerns that continued payment of such levies may embolden criminal networks, allowing them to exert greater control over communities and undermine food security at a time when many households depend heavily on subsistence farming.

Bakastine also questioned the broader implications of the situation, asking who truly holds authority over affected communities if farmers are compelled to pay armed groups before accessing their own land.

Security authorities are yet to issue an official response regarding the reported development, leaving residents uncertain about possible interventions or protection measures.

The situation adds to growing concerns over rural insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria, where farming communities remain exposed to threats that directly affect livelihoods and local food production systems.