Bandits Abduct 44 Residents, Place N20m ‘Protection Levy’ On Zamfara Community

Bandits have abducted not less than 44 residents including 39 women and children and five men in Kanwa village of Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Bandits Attack Zamfara

According to Premium Times, five women managed to escape from the terrorists’ camp after the bandits stormed the community on Thursday night, moving from house to house to abduct residents.

A local source in Zurmi town, Musa Abdullahi said “They went straight to the village square and started gathering residents. You know most time, men run to the bush because they know the bandits mostly kill men. The five men taken were very unlucky.”

Abdullahi said the terrorists suspected to be from Dankarami’s camp, had yet to contact the relatives of the abductees to discuss ransom payment.

Another source, who pleaded anonymity for security reasons, also told the publication that five out of the 39 women escaped.

“Yes, they returned on the same night (Thursday) but had to be helped by some vigilante members to reach home because it was in the night. They said they escaped because of the high number of abductees,” he said.

He said the escapees were lucky to have followed another route while the terrorists were leading the victims to their hideouts.

The source, who is now in Kaura Namoda, said the community has been deserted. “No one is there now. Most of the people are now in Kaura Namoda town because it’s relatively safer,” he said.

Bandits Place N20m ‘Protection Levy’ In Zamfara

The terrorists operating in the Shinkafi – Moriki – Isa axis have placed a N20 million protection levy on Moriki village in the Zurmi area.

A native of the community, Jamilu Shehu, said residents have started gathering money to pay the levy which was struck when some elders in the community met with a group of terrorists from the Bello Turji’s camp.

“Some weeks ago, some of our people were abducted when the ransom money was gathered, some of our elders went to pay the ransom and decided to talk with the bandits. They said we must pay a total of N20 million for protection which includes free access to our farms.

“They also promised to protect us from attack by some other bandits in the area. Infact, they said from here to Birnin Gwari, anywhere any of our residents is abducted, we should let them know. But the problem is getting the money,” Shehu, who is a youth leader told Premium Times on phone.

He added that the elders in the community have accepted the decision and it has been decided that every household should pay nothing less than N6,500 to make the sum.

KanyiDaily had also reported how bandits are demanding a ransom of N40million to release 20 children who were abducted from Kusherki in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.