Bandits impose ₦8m levy on Zamfara community, locals in fear

By Johnson Arua

Residents of Kaya village in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State are living in fear after armed bandits imposed an ₦8 million levy on the community, threatening violent reprisals if the money is not paid.

Sources disclosed that the threat was issued on Tuesday, with the bandits warning that failure to comply would result in attacks on the village.

The ultimatum has heightened tension among residents, who now fear loss of lives, destruction of property and fresh displacement.

The levy is believed to be a retaliatory move following the killing of Isuhu Buzu, a notorious bandit commander, during a recent joint security operation involving the Zamfara State Community Protection Guard (ZCPG) and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).

However, residents of Kaya village have denied any involvement in the operation, insisting that the community neither participated in nor had prior knowledge of the action that led to Buzu’s death.

They described the demand as collective punishment against innocent civilians already burdened by insecurity and economic hardship.

Commenting on the development, Katsina-based security expert, Malam Bakatsine, said the community was being unfairly targeted, stressing that counterterrorism operations are solely the responsibility of security agencies.

“The people of Kaya had nothing to do with the killing of the bandit commander. Imposing a levy on them is not only unjust but also dangerous, as it exposes innocent lives to further attacks,” he said.

Community leaders have called on the Zamfara State Government and security agencies to urgently intervene by deploying more personnel, intensifying patrols and securing Kaya and neighbouring communities to avert any attack.

They warned that allowing armed groups to punish civilians for security operations could embolden bandits and further destabilise the state’s already fragile security situation.

Zamfara remains one of the major flashpoints of banditry in Nigeria’s North-West, with rural communities often caught in the crossfire between security forces and armed groups.

Residents fear that without swift government action, Kaya village could become the next target of violent reprisals.