Farmers must pay tax before harvest – Bandits issue new threat in Niger

Farmers in the Atabo and Magama local government area of Niger State have reportedly been told by bandits that except they pay tax to them, they will be stopped from harvesting their crops.

According to Daily Post, the bandits attacked Atabo community and kidnapped Alhaji Mairabo, the village head, and his younger brother, popularly called Usman.

A source explained that the village head was later released but the younger brother is being held by the abductors.

The source further explained, “They released the village head on Wednesday and he was told to inform the family of his younger brother to pay N7 million ransom. They also told him that if this ransom was not paid on time, they would not allow us to harvest our crops this dry season until we pay tax. As I speak with you, some people have fled their homes since Tuesday’s attack.”

He appealed to the federal and Niger State governments to assist the area with security operatives to help harvest their crops.