Terrorists impose N10m levy on farmers; transportation halted, schools closed
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Terrorists have imposed a N10 million levy on farmers in Birnin-Gwari communities in Kaduna, threatening they will neither plant nor harvest this year unless the tax is paid, a sure banker for more hardship for the poor farmers and for stoking up food shortage.
Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressive Union (BEPU) Chairman Ishaq Kasai disclosed this in a statement where he also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to tackle insecurity in Birnin-Gwari Council and Kaduna for total restoration of peace.
“Disturbingly, the bandits continue to impose levies on farming communities in the area,” Kasai said.
“Just this week, the bandits imposed N10 million levies on three farming communities, namely: Sabon-Layi, Tashar Keji and Ruwan Rana where they gave these communities three days, which expired Tuesday 30/5/2023 to meet up this demand or be attacked.”
__________________________________________________________________
Related articles:
IDP numbers rise by 18,000 in Benue in 3 weeks
Nigeria’s North East close to severe food shortage
IDP campers are starving, Niger cries out
__________________________________________________________________
Transportation halted, most schools closed
Kasai warned insecurity in the area is a serious cause for concern, as Birnin-Gwari people are being kidnapped and killed daily by terrorists, per Daily Post.
He said the economy of the area depends solely on farming which has been seriously crippled by jihadists.
According to him, the residents no longer access their farmlands, transportation is halted, and most schools are closed.
Women and children are daily becoming Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), he added, recounting how “last Sunday night, Dadin Kowa village was attacked and sacked by bandits on motorcycles wielding different kinds of rifles.”
Terrorists kidnap two APC women leaders, others in Kaduna
Terrorists have also abducted two women leaders of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) along the Manini flashpoint in Birnin-Gwari Council.
Kasai, who confirmed the incident to Daily Post, said the women and scores of other people were kidnapped on May 29 and taken into the forest.
He identified the two women as Lami Awarware and her assistant, Haulatu Aliyu.
The abductors are yet to make contact for ransom, Kasai added.
