Bandits operating in several parts of Sokoto State have imposed levies on locals, requiring them to pay by next Friday or risk being attacked, according to Daily Trust.
Locals are also barred from their farms by the bandits pending payment of the prescribed levies, according to a resident of the area.
According to Daily Trust, some of the communities have settled with the bandits, while others are working hard to raise funds.
According to reports, the bandits calculated the amount they would pay based on the population of each community.
"Some are asked to pay N400,000, while others are asked to pay N700,000 or even less, and it is up to the community to decide how the money will be raised."
"In some communities, heads of households are asked to pay N12,000 each, while unmarried young men are asked to pay N1,000 each," according to another source.
According to the findings, the villages of Attalawa, Danmaliki, Adamawa, Dukkuma, Sardauna, and Dangari were each asked to pay N400,000.
Residents of Kwatsal village, who were billed N4 million, were said to have already paid the bandits N2 million out of the money.
"Every village was given until Friday to pay the money or face attack." One of the sources added, "People are paying because they have no other choice."
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