A local farmer in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State has been forced to abandon his farm after suspected armed bandits demanded a N500,000 “access tax” before allowing him to harvest his crops.
The victim, Mr. Terver Akume, a prominent yam and cassava farmer from Utange Council Ward in Katsina-Ala, revealed that the ultimatum was delivered on Friday, August 7, 2026, at approximately 8:30 AM while he was tending to his crops.
According to Akume, a gang of six heavily armed men emerged from the surrounding forest and intercepted him near his farm boundary in the outskirts of Tse-Akaa village.
”They told me point-blank that no single tub of yam or basin of cassava would leave the field unless I paid N500,000 cash within three days,” Akume said during a phone interview from his hiding place in Katsina-Ala town. “They threatened to execute anyone found on the land without paying the levy. I had no choice but to drop my tools and flee.”
The incident highlights a growing and alarming trend across agrarian communities in Benue State, where illegal taxation and extortion by armed groups have severely disrupted farming activities ahead of the main harvest season.
Local community leaders have expressed deep concern over the escalating extortion tactics, warning that the practice threatens regional food security.
The Caretaker Chairman of Katsina-Ala LGA, Hon. Justin Shaku, confirmed receiving reports of bandit levies in the area during an emergency security briefing held on Sunday, August 9, at the council headquarters in Katsina-Ala.
“We are aware of these illegal levies being imposed on our hard-working farmers by criminal elements hiding in boundary forests,” Shaku stated. “We are coordinating closely with security agencies to clear these pockets of criminality and reassure our citizens.”
”We are aware of these illegal levies being imposed on our hard-working farmers by criminal elements hiding in boundary forests,” Shaku stated. “We are coordinating closely with security agencies to clear these pockets of criminality and reassure our citizens.”
Speaking on behalf of the Benue State Police Command, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene, confirmed that security personnel had been alerted to the situation. ”The Command received a formal report regarding the extortion attempt in Utange Ward on Saturday morning,” SP Anene disclosed. “A joint operational team comprising police tactical units and military personnel has been deployed to conduct aggressive patrols around the affected farming corridors to track down the syndicate.”
”The Command received a formal report regarding the extortion attempt in Utange Ward on Saturday morning,” SP Anene disclosed. “A joint operational team comprising police tactical units and military personnel has been deployed to conduct aggressive patrols around the affected farming corridors to track down the syndicate.”
The forced abandonment of farmlands in Katsina-Ala—often referred to as part of Benue’s food basket corridor—comes at a critical time as farmers prepare for major harvests. Local agricultural associations warn that if security forces do not swiftly neutralize these extortion rings, market supply and crop prices across Northern and Central Nigeria will face severe disruptions in the coming months.
