Zamfara bandits impose N60 million levy on 12 villages for allegedly aiding military. Residents face threats as illegal extortion worsens in northwest Nigeria.
Zamfara Communities Slammed with N60 Million Levy by Bandits for Alleged Military Collaboration
Twelve Villages Targeted in Maru Local Government Area as Terrorists Tighten Grip on Rural Communities
In yet another grim illustration of Nigeria’s deepening security crisis, residents of twelve communities in the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State have been ordered by bandits to pay a staggering N60 million levy. The terrorists imposed the illegal levy after accusing villagers of collaborating with the military during a recent offensive in the Dan Kurmi forest.
The punitive demand comes just days after soldiers reportedly launched a successful assault on terrorist hideouts in the forest, killing a significant number of insurgents. In response, the surviving bandits accused the communities of sharing intelligence with security forces.
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Villages Named, Threats Delivered
The affected communities include:
Koloma, Dan Hayin Zargado, Zargado, Dan Godabe, Sabuwar Tunga, Makini, Bubaka, Yelwa, Bahwada, Koda, Manya, and Kabusu.
Residents told The Beat, an online platform known for tracking banditry in northwestern Nigeria, that local leaders and representatives from these villages were summoned by the terrorists for what was described as a “peace meeting.” However, the meeting quickly turned hostile, with the terrorists issuing a non-negotiable ultimatum to pay the N60 million levy or face coordinated attacks.
Bandits Allegedly Retaliating for Forest Fires and Intelligence Leaks
In a separate interview monitored on BBC Hausa, a traditional leader from Dan Kurmi, Sani Usman, revealed that the bandits also accused residents of deliberately burning parts of the forest where they had established hideouts. The fires, according to the terrorists, further hindered their mobility and operations in the wake of the military raid.
Usman noted that the bandits explicitly stated the levy was a form of punishment and a warning against future cooperation with security agencies.
Official Silence from Authorities
Attempts to obtain comments from the Zamfara State Police Command were unsuccessful. As of Monday evening, calls placed to the spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq, were not connecting.
Security experts have repeatedly called on the federal and state governments to address the increasing cases of “protection levies” being imposed on rural communities by armed groups operating freely in the region. The situation has worsened in recent months, with citizens forced to choose between paying terrorists or risking violent attacks.
A Growing Trend of Extortion in the Northwest
This incident is not isolated. In recent weeks, terrorists in Katsina State imposed a N1.5 million levy on the communities of Gurza, Kurechin Giye, and Kulawu, all in Danmusa Local Government Area. Similarly, a group led by a known terrorist named Nabaruma demanded N10 million from Unguwan Zakara village in Dutsin-Ma LGA.
These levies have become a reliable revenue stream for insurgents, helping to fund their operations, acquire weapons, and strengthen recruitment networks. In many cases, failure to pay results in mass abductions, destruction of property, or mass killings.
The Implication: Bandits Now Acting as Shadow Governments
Analysts warn that the imposition of these levies points to a dangerous evolution in the power of non-state actors in northern Nigeria. Bandits are no longer just attackers—they are enforcing taxes, resolving disputes, and punishing perceived disloyalty, effectively establishing a parallel government in regions where state presence is weak or non-existent.
Call for Urgent Action
With rural communities at the mercy of armed groups, civil society leaders, security analysts, and citizens are demanding urgent military and policy intervention. There are growing calls for the Nigerian government to adopt a more proactive, intelligence-driven counterinsurgency strategy, alongside investment in local policing, economic recovery, and trust-building in affected areas.
Until then, residents of Zamfara and other Northwestern states remain trapped in a cycle of violence, extortion, and fear victims of a state of lawlessness rapidly gaining ground.
