Why the Military Can’t Stop Northerners from Paying Levies to Bandits – Retired Generals

Retired military generals have stated that the Nigerian military cannot prevent residents in some troubled areas from paying levies and ransoms to bandits, despite ongoing counterterrorism efforts. The former officers cited deep-seated distrust in the military and a lack of consistent security presence as key reasons why people continue to comply with bandits’ demands.

For years, banditry has plagued northern Nigeria, with organized criminal groups engaging in mass abductions, village raids, and extortion. Farming communities have been particularly vulnerable, often forced to pay heavy levies to avoid attacks. These levies range from ₦20 million to ₦200 million, with bandit kingpins threatening violence if their demands are not met.

States severely affected include Benue, Niger, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna. In July 2024, residents of Toro in Benue State sold their farm produce to raise ₦20 million demanded by bandits. Similarly, in Zamfara, the people of Moriki struggled to gather ₦30 million for notorious bandit leader Bello Turji. More recently, in January 2025, another bandit leader, Dantsito, threatened communities in Zamfara’s Tsafe LGA with attacks unless they paid ₦200 million within two weeks.

Despite repeated calls from the Defence Headquarters urging residents not to give in to bandits, security experts argue that many communities feel abandoned. Former Commandant of Army Signals and Chief of Defence Training and Planning, Gen. Ishola Williams (retd.), said people’s distrust in the military leads them to comply with bandit demands. He emphasized the need to restore confidence in the military’s ability to protect civilians.

“People don’t trust the military anymore. If they believed that refusing to pay would lead to military intervention, they wouldn’t waste their money. But it’s an issue of trust,” Williams said. He also suggested that some individuals within affected communities might be benefiting from the payments, making community policing a critical solution.

Brig. Gen. John Sura (retd.), former Commander of the 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, highlighted the difficulty residents face in refusing to pay. He noted that many remote communities lack a consistent security presence, making military advice impractical.

“If someone stronger than you threatens to kill you unless you pay, you will have no choice but to comply,” Sura said. He explained that military deployments are usually centered around local government headquarters or major roads, leaving many villages unprotected. He suggested that communities should form local security groups like the Forest Guard in Benue, citing a similar approach in Bauchi that successfully deterred bandits.

Another retired general, who requested anonymity, pointed to inadequate military manpower as a major challenge. He stressed that the military’s limited presence makes it difficult to protect every community.

“Security agencies can tell people not to fear bandits, but the reality is different. The bandits are right there in their communities, while the military is not,” he said. “The military cannot be everywhere at once. They conduct operations and leave, but the bandits remain.”

He added that many local police stations are understaffed, leaving rural communities vulnerable. Without a permanent security presence, residents are forced to choose between resistance and survival, with many opting to pay levies to avoid violence.