Twelve communities in the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State are reeling after bandits imposed a staggering N60 million levy on them. Residents report that the armed groups are demanding the exorbitant sum as punishment for allegedly sharing intelligence with the Nigerian military.
This development follows a reported military operation last week where soldiers targeted terrorist enclaves within the Dan Kurmi forest, resulting in significant casualties among the bandits.
According to TheBeat, an online platform monitoring bandit activity in the region, the terrorists summoned village heads and community representatives under the guise of discussing peaceful coexistence. However, the meeting concluded with the shocking imposition of the N60 million levy across the communities of Koloma, Dan Hayin Zargado, Zargado, Dan Godabe, Sabuwar Tunga, Makini, Bubaka, Yelwa, Bahwada, Koda, Manya, and Kabusu. The ultimatum is clear: pay up or face attack.
Adding another layer to the residents’ plight, a traditional ruler in Dan Kurmi, Sani Usman, informed BBC Hausa that the bandits also cited the burning of forests within their hideouts as a reason for the punitive levy.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Zamfara State Police Command proved unsuccessful, as the spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq, could not be reached for comment.
The imposition of “protection levies” by non-state actors is a distressing trend in Zamfara and neighboring states, serving as a means for these criminal groups to finance their terror operations. Tragically, numerous communities in Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Niger, and Kebbi states have faced attacks for their inability to meet these unlawful demands.
This latest incident underscores the pervasive insecurity plaguing the region and the emboldened nature of bandit groups who operate with impunity, further extorting vulnerable communities.
Zamfara Communities Slammed with N60 Million “Punishment Levy” by Bandits
