Details have emerged of how some communities in Kaduna State pay sums up to the tune of N400 million to bandits, to avoid being killed.
This was revealed by a community leader, Alhaji Zubairu Abdulea’uf, who noted that residents are not allowed to access farmlands if the sum was not paid.
Zubairu, who is a leader of the Birnin Gwari Emirate Council in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, lamented the plight of the people, saying they were frustrated.
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He also said that people of the emirate have no choice than to resorted to defending themselves against the terrorists, who had over the years taken over the area.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday in Kaduna, Zubairu said the constant attacks on communities has left economic activities in areas epileptic, making traveling in the area an impossible mission.
Quizzed on payment to terrorists, Abdulra’uf, who appeared on the Kaduna State Media Corporation, said “Yes, N200m was paid to bandits in Randegi district alone.
“When you talk of Birnin-Gwari Local Government as a whole, it’s between N300m to N400m paid to these bandits.
“There are three stages of paying these types of taxes to these bandits. You have to pay pre-season and mid-season when the crops are about to start yielding.
“You will pay these bandits because they will not allow you to have access to your farm. Then, at the end of the season when you are harvesting, you will give these bandits money before you access your farm.
“And when you access your farm after paying these taxes, they will now tell you that apart from giving them money, you will give a ratio of two bags to 10 bags of all the assorted grains.”
“For the past three years, this is what the Birnin-Gwari people have been enduring and we are now in a state of hopelessness and frustration.
“When people are frustrated, they will now look for the best option for themselves which is to arm themselves if the government cannot protect them.”
