Residents of Bakale in Kilgori district of Yabo Local Government Area of Sokoto State have been ordered to pay N20 million to prevent attacks by a notorious bandit group.
The demand was delivered through an audio message obtained by Daily Trust, which captured the gang leader instructing the village head to gather residents for an announcement.
The bandit leader asked the village head if he had met with the people and if they agreed to follow his instructions.
After receiving confirmation, he ordered another meeting to inform the community about the levy. He claimed the payment was meant to prevent future attacks and ensure peace.He told the village head to relay the message clearly. He said the group did not want to harm the residents and had chosen to impose the levy instead.
He promised the community peace if they complied, but warned of severe consequences if they refused to pay.
In the audio, the gang leader warned that failure to pay the levy would lead to deadly attacks. H
He threatened to kill residents, attack homes, and kidnap villagers if the payment was not made. He also claimed that the payment would stop other criminal groups from targeting the area.
A community leader, who requested anonymity for security reasons, confirmed that Bakale was not the only settlement facing such threats. He said several nearby communities had received similar demands in recent weeks.
He identified the affected areas as Bazar, Alkalije, Gari, Bakale, Dagel, Adarawa, Kwaidaza, Kilgori Runji, Tudu, Tile, Kibiyare and Barmadu.
He explained that the amount demanded from each community differed based on its size.
He said some villages were told to pay N3 million, while others were instructed to pay as much as N20 million. He added that the fear in the area had grown after recent killings linked to the bandits.
According to him, six people were killed in Alkalije, while four others were killed in Tile in separate attacks.
He said the residents were living in fear because the threats had become more frequent. He noted that the communities had little support and remained vulnerable to attacks due to limited security presence.
He said many residents were unsure how to respond to the levy because the amount was far beyond what most families could afford.
He added that several communities had been forced to hold secret meetings to discuss the threats and consider possible responses.
The situation has heightened concerns across Yabo LGA.
Residents fear that more communities may soon receive similar criminal demands.
They also worry that refusal to pay could trigger mass displacement, more killings and widespread kidnappings in the affected districts.
Authorities have not issued any official statement on the levy or the growing threats across the Kilgori axis. Residents say they remain hopeful that security agencies will intervene before the deadline issued by the bandits expires.