Terrorists operating in parts of Kano and Katsina states are allegedly extorting farmers, demanding up to ₦50,000 per acre from sugarcane growers before harvest, as they establish a parallel system of governance within key forest reserves in the region.
According to reports on Friday, the terrorists have entrenched themselves in Rugu Forest in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State and Falgore Forest in Doguwa Local Government Area of Kano State.
There, they reportedly collect illegal farm taxes and issue threats against farmers who refuse to comply.
Farmers who resist these levies face intimidation, destruction of crops, and the risk of violent attacks, forcing many to abandon their farmlands entirely.
While sugarcane farmers are the primary targets, maize production has also been affected.
Activist Bakatsine (@DanKatsina50) noted that the forests are strategically located within the Kano–Katsina food belt, a major agricultural corridor supplying sugarcane and maize to large markets, including Dawanau Market in Kano.
Experts warn that continued disruption of farming activities in the area could trigger wider food shortages and price increases across northern Nigeria.
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Despite the presence of military and police checkpoints along the Falgore road, reports indicate that terrorists operate within five kilometres of these security positions, raising concerns about the effectiveness of security coverage and the capacity of authorities to protect rural communities.
Residents and farming communities describe the situation as a gradual takeover, with armed actors enforcing rules, collecting levies, and controlling daily economic activities without resistance.
The development has intensified calls for urgent action by Kano and Katsina state governments and federal security agencies to dismantle the alleged parallel structures and prevent a looming food-security crisis.
As of press time, no official response had been issued by the affected state governments or security agencies.
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