Notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has reportedly issued threats to farmers in Zamfara State, demanding a payment of N50 million before they can access their farmlands during this rainy season.
According to security expert Bakatsine, who shared the information via his X handle, Turji has made it clear that farmers can only "peacefully" tend to their farms after paying the hefty sum, which effectively serves as a protection tax.
The extortion scheme primarily targets residents of Tsalaken Gulbi from Fakai village in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, with its reach extending to Qaya near the Niger Republic border.
A Dangerous Pattern of Extortion
This form of extortion has unfortunately become almost customary for farmers in troubled northern regions, who are often forced to pay "safety taxes" to bandits before they can farm their lands or harvest their crops.
More disturbing is that previous reports have confirmed that even after paying these ransoms, some farmers still lose their lives to bandit attacks. In other cases, they may lose their farm produce to the criminals, or suffer both tragedies simultaneously.
This latest demand comes amid ongoing security challenges in Nigeria's northwestern region, where banditry has severely disrupted agricultural activities and threatened food security.
Bello Turji has been implicated in numerous violent attacks across the region in recent years, with security forces repeatedly targeting his operations.
As of the time of this report, there has been no official statement from security agencies regarding this specific threat.
Stay connected with BenriNews for updates on this developing story.
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