Residents of Kaya village in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State have been thrown into fear and uncertainty following threats by armed bandits who imposed an ₦8 million levy on the community as a form of punishment over the killing of a notorious bandit commander.
Sources in the area disclosed that the threat was issued on Tuesday, with the bandits warning that the levy must be paid or the community would face violent reprisals. The development has heightened tension among residents, who now fear possible loss of lives, destruction of property, and further displacement.
The levy is reportedly a retaliatory action following the killing of Isuhu Buzu, a known bandit leader, during a recent joint security operation involving the Zamfara State Community Protection Guard (ZCPG) and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).
However, residents of Kaya village have strongly denied any involvement in the operation that led to Buzu’s death, insisting that the community had no prior knowledge or role in the security action. They described the levy as an act of collective punishment against innocent civilians who are already grappling with insecurity and economic hardship.
Speaking on the situation, Katsina-based security expert, Malam Bakatsine, confirmed that the community had been unjustly targeted, noting that counterterrorism operations are the responsibility of security agencies and should not attract reprisals against civilians.
“The people of Kaya had nothing to do with the killing of the bandit commander. Imposing a levy on them is not only unjust but also dangerous, as it exposes innocent lives to further attacks,” he said.
Community leaders have appealed to the Zamfara State Government and relevant security agencies to urgently intervene by deploying additional security personnel, intensifying patrols, and securing Kaya village and its surrounding communities to forestall any possible attack.
They warned that allowing armed groups to punish civilians for security operations could embolden bandits and worsen the already fragile security situation in the state. The leaders stressed the need for proactive measures to protect vulnerable communities and prevent revenge attacks by criminal elements.
Zamfara State has remained one of the flashpoints of banditry in Nigeria’s North-West, with rural communities frequently caught in the crossfire between security forces and armed groups. Residents fear that without swift government intervention, Kaya village could become the next target of violent reprisals.
