Farmers in Ilali village, Katsina State, are facing fresh hardship as bandits have allegedly demanded a ₦5 million levy in exchange for peace and safety during this year’s harvest.

The demand, which villagers describe as a “peace levy,” is reportedly the only way they will be allowed to access their farmlands without the threat of attacks.

The revelation was made public by a security analyst known as Bakatsine, who shared the development on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday.

“Bandits have reportedly imposed a ₦5 million levy on residents of Ilali village in Katsina State. Sources say the demand is framed as a fee for peace and safe harvest,” he wrote.

So far, authorities have not released an official statement on the incident, but the report has sparked deep concern over the worsening security situation in Katsina and other farming communities across northern Nigeria.

The development raises fresh fears about food insecurity, as farmers already struggling with high costs and insecurity now face extortion just to cultivate and harvest their crops.