Bandits kill 33 in Zamfara communities for failure to pay N40m levy

No fewer than 30 people have been killed and several others, mostly women, abducted in Zamfara State by bandits for failing to pay N40 million levied on them by bandits. 

The killings and abductions happened Friday afternoon in Nasarawar Mai Fara in Tsafe Local Government Area, Yar Katsina in Bungudu LGA, and Nasarawa village in Bakura LGA.

Sources who spoke to Premium Times said that 20 were killed after failing to pay levy in Nasarawar Mai Fara.

The levy was imposed by Ada Aleru, a notorious banditry kingpin operating in the area and the Faskari part of Katsina State.

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Abubakar Bala, a resident of Tsafe, said residents could not pay the levy, hence the attack.

Mr Balarabe, who has covered conflict for a local radio station and Thunder Blowers Online, said 20 people had been confirmed dead as of Friday evening.

In the Bakura area, a health worker, Masud Kyambarawa, told the online Newspaper that three people, including the chief imam of the area, Akilu Dan Malam, were killed.

He said, “I was in the town yesterday when the shooting started. We went for a survey. We had to rush to a neighbouring village in Rabah of Sokoto State. It was an unpleasant experience. People, especially women and children, were running into the bush for their lives. Alhamdulillah, we are back now safely but I heard that three people were killed.”

In the Yar Katsina village of Bungudu, the bandits stopped people from attending the Muslims’ Jumu’at prayers.

A source, who asked not to be named for security reasons, said that when the bandits stormed the village, people were already at the only Jumu’at mosque but dispersed immediately.

Abdul Balarabe, a local journalist in Gusau, said at least 10 people were killed in the attack.

“Ten bodies have been recovered so far and several other people are still missing. Residents are saying they don’t know whether those still missing were kidnapped or not. The bandits entered the village during Jumu’at prayers,” Mr Balarabe said.

Mr Bala of Tsafe lamented the increasing number of attacks on villages and abduction of motorists on the Funtua – Gusau highway.

“The dangerous spots are Sheme to Yankara and the axis around Kucheri, a few metres before Tsafe,” he said.

The state police command spokesperson, Mohammed Shehu, who promised to verify the information and get back has not done so when the report was filed.