Sokoto Village Residents Ordered To Pay N20 Million Levy By Bandits To Avoid Deadly Attacks
Residents of Bakale village in Kilgori district, Yabo Local Government Area, Sokoto State, have been told to pay a N20 million levy to avoid deadly attacks from an armed group.
An audio recording obtained by our reporter captures the group’s leader instructing the village head to call a meeting and inform the community about the demand.
In the recording, the bandit asked the village head about compliance with a previous directive, saying, “Did you meet with them? Did they agree to obey your command?” After the head confirmed, the bandit ordered him to summon residents again and announce the fresh N20 million levy.
“We don’t want to attack you. That is why we decided to impose this levy. If you pay, you will continue to live in peace. We will prevent any group from attacking your community or abducting your people. But if you fail to pay, we will attack, kill, and kidnap,” the bandit warned.
A community leader, speaking anonymously, confirmed that similar levies have been imposed on neighbouring villages. Affected settlements across Kilgori and Torankawa districts include Bazar, Alkalije, Gari, Bakale, Dagel, Adarawa, Kwaidaza, Kilgori Runji, Tudu, Tile, Kibiyare, and Barmadu.
Levies reportedly range from N3 million to N20 million, depending on the size of the community. The source also revealed that six people were killed in Alkalije and four in Tile during attacks two weeks ago.
Attempts to get a response from the Sokoto State Police Command were unsuccessful, with spokesperson DSP Ahmad Rufa’i not responding to multiple calls.
