January 06, (THEWILL) – A notorious bandit leader, Danisuhu, has reportedly imposed a N172.7 million levy on 25 villages in the Tsafe west area of Zamfara state.
Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert, said the levies were accompanied by demands for in-kind contributions, including bags of soya beans and threats of violence against those who fail to comply.
According to Makama, a breakdown of the levies for each village shows “Gijinzama: N8.5m, Dakolo: N5m + 20 bags of soya beans, Gunja: N7m, Kauyen Kane: N5m, Kurar Mota: N6m, Sabon Garin Bakin Gulbi: N2.5m, Kibari: N3m, Karda: N5m, Daga Ciki: N3m, Biya: N5m, Barebari: N6m, Kauyen Magaji: N7m, Kwaren Maisaje: N10m, Magazawa: N10m, Maciya: N5m, Unguwar Danhalima: N5m, Unguwar Rogo: N5m, Katanga: N5m, Magazu: N5m, Sungawa: N15m, Rakyabu: N15m, Yalwa: N2.7m, Tsageru: N5m, Gidan Anne: N7m, Kunchin Kalgo: N20m.”
Meanwhile, locals have reportedly abandoned their homes, farmland, and livelihoods in fear of violent reprisals for failing to meet the demands.
“The situation is dire. The inability to pay these levies often results in brutal attacks by the bandits, leaving the residents with no option but to flee”, one of the villagers said
Locals have appealed for urgent intervention of the Government, to deploy more security personnel and establish permanent posts in Tsafe West.
Meanwhile, terrorists linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have killed six soldiers in a raid on a military base in Sabon Gari, Damboa district, Borno State.
Two military officers told AFP on Monday that the fighters launched a pre-dawn attack in trucks and on motorcycles on Sunday, setting fire to the base along with army vehicles.
“We lost six soldiers in the ISWAP terrorist attack on the base after an intense gun battle”, one of the officers said, adding that the soldiers were forced to withdraw.
“Air strikes against the fleeing terrorists resulted in multiple militant fatalities and the destruction of operational vehicles and their weaponry”, another officer said.
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