By Desire Emmanuel
A notorious bandits leader has threatened some communities in Katsina State and has imposed a N50 million levy on them, warning the residents of serious repercussions if the money is not paid on time.
The notorious leader of bandits, Mustapha Babaro, who has been attacking various places in the state and taking his captives into the forest, was said to have imposed the levy on the people of Yangoje and surrounding communities in the Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.
A source in the state told Impact Nigeria News Online on Sunday night that the bandits leader visited the heads of the communities and imposed the levy, saying payment of the money is the only thing that can guarantee them peace in the communities.
He was said to have promised that if the money is paid, farmers will have free access to their farmlands and traders will go about their normal business activities.
He however warned the community leaders that failure to pay the money on time may lead to serious consequences, a veiled reference to attacking the communities, killing and abducting the residents.
The source said the people in those communities are currently in dilemma regarding how to raise the money while he also warned them never to report his request to the security agencies.
Katsina State has been in the throes of attacks by bandits and some communities in the state have been holding “peace talks” with some bandits leaders. However, some of the peace parleys always break down as the bandits usually make unreasonable and unrealistic demands.
However, while various communities hold peace talks and make payments to bandits in order to sleep with their eyes closed, the state government and security agencies seem to be helpless on the menace of banditry.
