Terrorists operating in Nigeria’s Northwest have imposed “harvest fees” ranging from N5 million to N20 million on villagers in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The alarming development was reported on Tuesday by Bakatsine, a journalist covering conflict and insecurity in the region.

According to Bakatsine, the bandits demand the levy before allowing villagers to harvest their crops, turning everyday farming into a dangerous ordeal.

He described the situation in Tsafe as more than insecurity, calling it a collapse of basic protection for rural communities.

Bakatsine detailed: “Villagers in Tsafe LGA say bandits are now charging them ‘harvest fees’ just to access their own farmlands. Communities are forced to pay between N5 million and N20 million.

“But the suffering doesn’t stop there. Residents report that even after paying, the same gunmen often release cattle into the fields, destroying what little food people have left. Speaking up is risky, as locals fear it could cost them their lives.

“People here feel completely abandoned. They’re asking: How is this allowed to continue? Where are the leaders meant to protect us?

“What’s happening in Tsafe is not just insecurity; it’s a breakdown of fundamental protection for rural communities.”