Bandits Demand N200 Million Levy from Zamfara Communities

Bandits have imposed a total levy of N200 million on several communities in Zurmi Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State, according to Daily Trust. The affected villages are primarily situated along the Kaura Namoda-Moriki road.

The communities facing these extortionate demands include Yan Dolen Kaura (N15 million), Gidan Zagi (N15 million), Kanwa Million (N20 million), Kaiwa Lamba (N26 million), Gidan Dan Zara (N22 million), Jinkirawa (N16 million), Dumfawa (N16 million), Ruguje (N7 million), Babani (N3 million), and Gidan Duwa (N4 million). Villagers are under intense pressure to gather these funds within a limited timeframe.

Some communities have already complied, paying the required amounts, while others are desperately scrambling to collect the necessary sums. This has driven many villagers to seek menial jobs in nearby towns as they strive to meet the bandits’ demands.

Malam Yunusa Musa, a resident of Zurmi town, revealed that although the residents of Turawa paid N15 million, their relatives remain in captivity. “Several villages whose levies range from N26 million to N3 million have already paid the money,” he said.

Malam Haruna Ilu, another resident, reported that the extortion has forced villagers to migrate to urban areas in search of work. The escalating situation has heightened fears for safety, leading to urgent calls for increased security in the state.

Recently, soldiers deployed to Zurmi town intervened by repelling bandits who had pursued residents into nearby villages, firing sporadically. Ilu appealed to the government for immediate assistance, stressing the need for enhanced security measures to protect lives and property from the relentless threats of banditry and extortion in Zamfara State.