Nigeria, Sept. 9 -- (This is the second part of a series on the impact of banditry on rural Katsina communities. Read the first part here).

Misbahu Usman was sitting on a wooden bench under a veranda in the company of some middle-aged men. They were discussing local politics and governance when this reporter and his guide met them that Thursday morning in August in Bakin Kuka area of Jibia town of Katsina State. It was 11:30 a.m.

"We should be in our farms by this time," Mr Usman said. His friends nodded in agreement. "But look at us here, arguing and talking. What else can we do? We are idle because our farms are now a no go area."

Mr Usman had not been to his farm since the start of the rainy season. He said it would be suicidal to g...