By Desire Emmanuel
Some bandits were said to have begun house-to-house demand for levies imposed on some communities at a local government area in Katsina State as a condition for them to continue enjoying peace.
The bandits were reported to have come to various communities in Faskari Local Government Area of the state, going to the homes of the inhabitants and asking them to pay or have themselves to blame.
A competent source in the state told Impact Nigeria News Online on Tuesday, December 16, that the bandits also issued new rules to the communities and one of the rules was that no one, including hunters or night guards, should be found with guns.
They were said to have promised that the ‘peace deals’ will continue to be enjoyed by the communities as long as they abide by all their rules and pay the levies imposed on them promptly.
It was gathered that the bandits warned those whom they could not get money from among the residents of the consequences of default next time they come around to carry out the house-to-house demand for the levies.
However, while the bandits continue to harass the residents and force them to pay levies, it seems security agencies and the state government are looking the other way as the source said many of the members of the communities have complained but there were no positive responses to the complaints.
It will be recalled that some communities in the state have signed ‘peace deals’ with some of the bandits, but in many instances, such peace deals are always violated by then as they launch attacks, abduct residents and demand for ransoms.
