Pay N20m levy or be k!lled – Bandits tell Sokoto residents

Residents of Bakale village in Kilgori district, Yabo Local Government Area, Sokoto State, have been instructed to pay a N20 million levy to avert potential d3adly attacks

An audio recording obtained by our reporter captures the leader of an armed group directing the village head to convene a meeting with the community and relay the demand.

In the recording, the bandit questioned the village head about compliance with an earlier directive. “Did you meet with them? Did they agree to obey your command?” he asked. After the village head confirmed, the bandit ordered him to summon residents again and announce the new N20 million levy.

“We don’t want to attack you. That is why we decided to impose this levy. If you pay, I promise you will continue to live in peace. We will not allow any group to attack your community or kidnap your people. But if you fail to pay, we will attack you, kill you, and abduct your people. This is our message,” the bandit said.

A community leader, who requested anonymity, confirmed that similar levies had been imposed on neighbouring settlements. Villages affected across Kilgori and Torankawa districts include Bazar, Alkalije, Gari, Bakale, Dagel, Adarawa, Kwaidaza, Kilgori Runji, Tudu, Tile, Kibiyare, and Barmadu.

According to the source, levies range from N3 million to N20 million, depending on the size of the community. He also disclosed that six people were killed in Alkalije and four in Tile during separate attacks two weeks ago.

Efforts to reach the Sokoto State Police Command for comment were unsuccessful, as spokesperson DSP Ahmad Rufa’i did not respond to repeated calls.

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