Gunmen Demand N172 Million Levy From Zamfara Villages, Residents Flee In Fear

Gunmen, allegedly led by the notorious bandit leader Danisuhu, have reportedly imposed a staggering N172.7 million levy on 25 villages in Tsafe West Local Government Area, Zamfara State.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to a report by Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, the levies were accompanied by demands for in-kind contributions such as bags of soybeans, with threats of violence against those who fail to comply.

The report highlighted the financial demands placed on each village, with amounts ranging from N2.5 million to N20 million, as well as additional demands for soybeans. Villages targeted include Gijinzama (N8.5 million), Dakolo (N5 million + 20 bags of soybeans), Gunja (N7 million), and many others.

These demands have forced hundreds of residents to flee their homes, abandoning their farmlands and livelihoods out of fear of violent reprisals. A local source described the situation as desperate, noting that failure to meet the levies often results in brutal attacks by the bandits, leaving residents with no choice but to flee.

Despite improvements in security along the Funtua-Tsafe axis and in Tsafe town, these gains have not yet extended to the rural villages of Tsafe West. In response, residents have called for more security personnel, the establishment of permanent posts in Tsafe West, and emergency relief for those displaced by the violence.