In a troubling development highlighting rising insecurity in Nigeria’s North West, bandits have reportedly imposed a ₦20 million levy on farmers in Gatakawa, a community in Kankara Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina State, before allowing them to harvest their crops. The move has been described as a chilling indicator of deepening lawlessness in the region.
Despite recent so-called peace agreements, many farmers in Kankara LGA continue to live in fear. Families are reportedly forced to sell personal belongings or borrow money just to meet the bandits’ demands before they can enter their farmlands. Beyond the immediate human toll, the extortion is seen as a serious threat to local and regional food security.
The situation has also raised concerns about public confidence in the government and security agencies, as such criminal activities erode trust in authorities’ ability to protect rural communities from the growing menace of banditry.
This incident is part of a disturbing trend in Katsina State. On 19 June 2025, bandits killed at least 20 farmers in Kankara LGA and rustled animals from their farms. Earlier, on 13 May 2025, bandits imposed a ₦60 million levy on residents of Tashar Kaɗanya, also in Kankara LGA, threatening attacks if their demands were not met. Furthermore, on 21 August 2025, armed groups imposed nearly ₦15 million in levies on communities in Almu Ward, Malumfashi LGA, restricting farm access to specific hours.
These recurring incidents underscore the urgent need for stronger security measures and community protection initiatives to safeguard lives, livelihoods, and food production in the state.
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