Armed groups operating in parts of Katsina State have reportedly imposed a fresh ₦10 million levy on farming communities, despite ongoing or previously negotiated peace arrangements meant to reduce violence in the region.
According to local accounts from affected areas in Faskari and Bakori Local Government Areas, the armed men recently issued new financial demands on several villages, warning residents that failure to comply could result in renewed attacks or restrictions on farming activities during the current agricultural season.
The affected communities include several rural settlements where residents are already struggling with insecurity, displacement, and limited access to farmlands. Farmers say the demand has placed them in a difficult position, as they rely heavily on the planting season for survival.
Reports indicate that the levies are part of a broader pattern of informal “taxation” being imposed by armed groups across parts of north-western Nigeria, even in areas where local peace agreements had previously reduced the frequency of attacks. In some cases, residents claim that such arrangements were initially introduced as a way to temporarily prevent violence, but have now evolved into recurring financial obligations.
A resident from one of the affected communities described the situation as “unbearable,” noting that households are being forced to contribute money collectively despite widespread poverty and insecurity.
“We are not even sure if paying will bring peace,” the source said, adding that communities are increasingly trapped between survival and safety.
Security analysts have warned that such developments reflect the fragility of local peace deals in bandit-prone areas, where armed groups often continue to exert influence over rural populations despite negotiations involving community leaders or informal agreements.
Meanwhile, there has been no official confirmation or detailed response from state security authorities at the time of filing this report. However, calls for stronger military presence and sustained government intervention continue to grow among residents and civil society groups.
The situation underscores the ongoing insecurity challenge in Katsina and other parts of the North-West, where rural communities remain vulnerable to recurring attacks, displacement, and economic disruption despite multiple intervention efforts.
