In Ardo-Kola local government area of Taraba State, bandits are imposing beer levies ranging from N20,000 to N100,000 on farmers, hindering agricultural activities. Read full story
In a concerning development reported by #bendelnews, bandits in Ardo-Kola local government area of Taraba State are demanding beer as levies from farmers before permitting them to harvest their crops. The amount varies, with farmers paying between N20,000 to N100,000, depending on their farm size.
A senior civil servant in Jalingo shared his experience of being compelled to purchase beer worth over N200,000 to gain access to his Benniseed farm.
This unfortunate trend is affecting farming communities including Baka, Kasakuru, Majowere, Digun, Nyapori, Buzi, Dare, and Sakala.
According to the report, farmers suffer a great deal as a result of these taxes; some of them give up farming altogether out of concern that they won't be able to recoup their expenses after harvest.
Furthermore, reports suggest that bandits are working with informants to obtain data on people who plan to harvest their crops, making the problems facing the farming community even more severe.
Authorities must act quickly to resolve security issues, protect farmers, and guarantee the continuous advancement of agricultural activity in the area.