Bandits raid Zamfara communities, kill over 25 over refusal to pay 40m tax

Over the weekend, gunmen suspected of being terrorists raided Nasarawa Maifara and Yarkasina villages in Tsafe and Bungudu local government regions, killing around 30 people.

According to Idris Lawal, a Nasarawa Maifara community villager who talked to newsmen over the phone, the bandits imposed a levy on the community a few weeks ago, demanding N40 million as a tax levy.

Idris Lawal claimed that the bandits launched the raid last Thursday, and that two of them were murdered following a gun duel with community members.

He added that the bandits returned at about 10:00 am on Sunday when they were preparing for the burial of a slain member of the community.

“When we noticed their presence, the villagers began to run away for the safety of their lives. But they were shooting sporadically at our women and children and as I am talking to you now, we have moved to Bawa Ganga village. We learnt that they killed at least 20 of our people, mainly women and children,” he added.

According to him, the bandits destroyed their food items, burnt some houses and moved away with their livestock, which he said they were yet to ascertain the number of animals rustled by the bandits during the raid on the community.

He appealed to the federal and state governments to ensure their safety by addressing the insecurity affecting their community.