Farmers in Niger state’s Mariga local government area have been hit with an N11 million levy by bandits.
The bandits also threatened to prevent the farmers from harvesting their crops if the payment was not made.
Security reports on Friday revealed that the bandits targeted villages in the Dusai, Holobo, Sabon Wurin, and Hunyo communities in the north-central state.
They demanded not only cash but also motorcycles, food, and mobile phones in exchange for abducted villagers.
The latest development comes as part of a growing trend where bandits impose heavy levies on local communities, a similar tactic of famous bandit leader Bello Turji in Nigeria’s northwest region.
