Armed groups operating in parts of Kano and Katsina states are allegedly extorting farmers, demanding up to N50,000 per acre from sugarcane growers before harvest, as they entrench what residents describe as a parallel system of governance within key forest reserves.
According to reports from affected communities, the groups have established control in Rugu Forest in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State and Falgore Forest in Doguwa Local Government Area of Kano State. From these locations, they reportedly impose illegal levies on farmers and threaten violence against those who refuse to comply.
Farmers who fail to pay are said to face intimidation, destruction of crops and the risk of attacks, forcing some to abandon their farmlands altogether. While sugarcane growers are the primary targets, maize production has also been affected.
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An activist, Bakatsine, who posts under the X handle @DanKatsina50, said the forests lie within the Kano–Katsina food belt, a major agricultural corridor supplying produce to markets such as Dawanau Market in Kano.
Security sources and residents said the armed groups are operating within five kilometres of military and police checkpoints along the Falgore Road, raising concerns about the effectiveness of security presence in the area.
Residents described the situation as a gradual takeover, with armed actors enforcing rules, collecting levies and exercising control over daily economic activities with little resistance.
Experts warn that continued disruption to farming in the region could trigger food shortages and drive up prices across northern Nigeria, given the area’s role in supplying staple crops.
As of press time, no official response had been issued by the Kano or Katsina state governments, or by security agencies, regarding the reported farm extortion.
Katsina cites peace deals amid criticism
The reports come amid controversy over the Katsina State government’s decision to facilitate the release of 70 persons detained over suspected banditry-related activities.
Speaking on a live programme, the state commissioner for internal security and home affairs, Nasir Muazu, said the releases were part of peace agreements reached between communities and armed groups described as repentant bandits.
Muazu said the agreements, covering at least 15 local government areas, had resulted in the release of about 1,000 abducted persons, arguing that the approach prioritised stability and the return of hostages.
The policy has drawn criticism from legal experts and civil society groups, who warn that releasing suspects accused of serious crimes risks undermining the rule of law — concerns now amplified by reports of ongoing extortion in farming communities.
