Armed bandits have imposed illegal taxes on several rural communities in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, residents say, worsening fears about insecurity in the northwestern state.
In Danjibga town, local sources told Bakatsine that bandits demanded N8 million from the community. Of this, N4 million was allegedly meant as compensation for two motorcycles the criminals claimed were taken by security forces, while another N4 million was tied to money the bandits said a local youth had collected from them.
To enforce their demands, the attackers reportedly seized a vehicle carrying 100 bags of soybeans and held four people hostage. The vehicle and captives were reportedly to be released only after full payment of the demanded sum.
The illegal taxation has also spread to nearby villages. Sources said Kagana was asked to pay N4 million, Bare-Bari N4 million, and Kurin Ganwa faced an astronomical demand of N40 million. Residents say these rising demands reflect how insecurity in Zamfara continues to escalate.
“Bandits now control many aspects of our lives,” said a resident of Danjibga, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “They not only kidnap for ransom but now impose these illegal taxes. We live in fear every day.”
Zamfara has been at the center of Nigeria’s growing banditry crisis, with hundreds of communities affected by kidnappings, killings, and property destruction. Armed groups have increasingly imposed “taxes” on villages, sometimes demanding millions of naira to allow residents to live without attacks.
“The bandits have shifted from simple raids to more organized extortion operations,” said security analyst Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi. “Communities are not just being robbed; they are being systematically forced to pay these illegal taxes, which funds further criminal activity.”
Villagers are appealing to both the Zamfara State Government and federal security agencies to step in quickly. They warn that without urgent action, more towns and villages may fall under the same threats of extortion and kidnappings.
“We cannot continue to live like this,” said another local resident. “Every day we hear of more money being demanded, more hostages being taken. The government must act before it’s too late.”
The Zamfara State Government has occasionally deployed military and police personnel to troubled areas, but locals say the measures are often too little and too late. Analysts have called for a sustained and coordinated security strategy, combining intelligence, community policing, and federal support, to tackle the banditry problem effectively.
