Residents of Ilali in the Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State have been given a two-week ultimatum by bandits to pay a “security levy” of N10 million.
Sources, speaking to SaharaReporters, revealed that the bandits, through an intermediary, met with local community leaders and instructed them that the villagers must contribute the requested sum if they wanted to remain in their homes safely.
When questioned about whether the security agencies were aware of the levy and the threat of violence if it was not paid, a source confirmed that authorities are fully informed of the situation.
Following the demand, many villagers have reportedly fled their homes.
One resident explained, “This week, Fulani bandits asked several villages in our area to pay levies. In my village, Ilali, located in Matazu LGA, Katsina State, we were told to pay N10 million if we want to farm our crops. They gave us two weeks to make the payment and warned that failure to comply would result in an attack on the entire village.”
Another resident added, “The situation is extremely worrying. We are living in fear, and most villagers have abandoned their homes.”
Katsina State has been experiencing a surge in violent attacks, with bandits exploiting weak security enforcement. Farming and herding communities are particularly vulnerable, as gangs regularly raid villages, steal cattle, and kidnap residents for ransom, leaving locals in a constant state of fear and uncertainty.
