By Ghazali Ibrahim
Residents of 26 communities in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State have reportedly been forced to suspend farming activities after armed groups allegedly imposed levies and issued a three-day ultimatum before agricultural work can resume.
The affected communities are said to have begun raising money to meet the demands of the gunmen, who warned that anyone caught on their farmlands during the period would be killed or abducted.
The incident comes at the peak of the wet-season farming period, raising fresh fears over food security and rural livelihoods in the region.
According to local sources, the communities include Garin Faji, Cina Barka, Zululu, Dan Gari, Garin Maigayya, Gardi, Katsira, Garin Baushe, Sulmawa, Zakin Ganga, Dan Kware, Garje, Dogon Faru, Son Allah, Garin Galadima, Kafchi, Matabaya, Garin Labo, Zango, Kaifin Aska, Tsauna Dogo, Tudun Wada, Rambadawa, Ga Itace, Nasarawa and Garin Idi.
A resident familiar with developments in the area said the directive had triggered panic among farmers preparing for planting season.
“The communities were given three days. They said nobody should go to the farms until the money is paid. Anyone caught farming would either be killed or kidnapped and would not regain freedom until a ransom of ₦500,000 is paid,” the source said.
The source added that residents had already begun pooling funds to meet the demand, noting that such levies had become a recurring burden on rural communities.
Another resident of Zululu village, who spoke anonymously, confirmed that farming activities had been halted.
“We were told that farming has been banned for three days until the villages pay the levies they impose every year,” he said.
He alleged that the armed groups justified the demand by claiming that security operatives had been targeting their livestock, insisting that no farming would be allowed until payments were made.
According to him, traditional rulers and religious leaders are expected to meet with the bandits to negotiate the amount to be paid by each community before farming can resume.
A resident of Garin Idi also claimed that about 20 people were abducted following delays in meeting earlier demands, adding that ransom payments were later made for their release.
He said the communities typically pay between ₦4 million and ₦6 million collectively, with households contributing varying amounts depending on their means.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer in Sokoto State, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said the command was not aware of the situation, noting that many incidents are often not formally reported to security agencies.
As of press time, state authorities had yet to issue an official response.
The development has heightened fears of worsening food insecurity in the region, as many of the affected communities rely heavily on subsistence farming for survival.
