In Kebbi State’s Bagudu Local Government Area, farmers and traders are entangled in a web of frustration and financial strain due to relentless extortion by security operatives along the road connecting Nigeria with the Benin Republic.
Tukur Muhammad, the Secretary of Amana Farmers and Grains Suppliers Association of Nigeria in the area, disclosed that the extortionate burden imposed on them has led to a surge in commodity prices. He emphasized that the illegal collections significantly contribute to the overall increase in the prices of farm produce, goods, and essential items.
“It’s a dire situation where every trader or farmer must pay varying amounts at each of the 44 checkpoints from Bagudu to Tsamiya before being allowed to proceed,” lamented Rabi’u Mainasara, the Chairman of the association. The security agencies involved are reported to include the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.
This widespread extortion has led to a grain supplier loading a truck with 600 bags of maize or millet, revealing the burden of paying at least N600,000 in extortion fees to reach their destinations. Even the transportation of goods on motorcycles is not spared, with each bag incurring a fee of N500, and an additional N300 in extortion, regardless of the cargo.
Muhammad has called on the state government to crack down on unauthorized revenue collections and extortions, urging the enforcement of Internally Generated Revenue collection to curb the prevalent illegal practices. He reiterated that eliminating such extortion would not only safeguard citizens against financial exploitation but also bolster the state’s coffers.
As the situation escalates, Mainasara has appealed to the federal and Kebbi governments, as well as the heads of the concerned security agencies, to urgently intervene and curb the rampant extortion. He warned that failure to address the issue promptly could lead to people resorting to self-help measures.
The plight of Kebbi’s farmers and traders underscores the urgency of addressing the systemic extortion that permeates their daily lives, while also highlighting the broader impact on the region’s economy.
