Residents of two rural communities in Zamfara State have been thrown into panic after armed bandits reportedly imposed a staggering ₦10 million levy on villages in Mada District, forcing many families to flee while leaving at least one person feared dead following a fresh attack.
Security analyst Bakatsine disclosed that the assaults targeted Totari and Gyattawa villages in Gusau Local Government Area, where residents were violently dispersed during coordinated invasions.
According to local sources cited by Bakatsine, heavily armed bandits stormed Totari village on Friday, issuing an ultimatum demanding a ₦10 million payment from residents.
When villagers could not meet the demand, the attackers reportedly unleashed violence, forcing terrified families to abandon their homes and seek safety elsewhere.
In a separate late-night assault, the gunmen invaded Gyattawa village, firing sporadically and sending residents fleeing into surrounding bushes. At least one person was reportedly shot during the attack and is feared dead, though officials have yet to confirm casualties.
Community members say the latest violence is part of a long-running pattern of extortion by armed groups. Before the last rainy season, villagers allegedly paid millions of naira to gain access to their farmlands. After harvest, they were again forced to pay about ₦8 million to retrieve their crops.
Sources now claim the same bandits are demanding residents sell their produce to raise additional payments, threatening more deadly attacks if the levy is not settled.
Locals say they feel abandoned, lamenting the absence of emergency intervention or sustained security presence despite repeated attacks and financial exploitation.
The latest violence adds to a growing list of bandit-related incidents that have plagued communities across Zamfara in recent months.
