The people of Magami in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State have cried for help over the worsening state of insecurity in their community.
The residents alleged that bandits destroyed their farm lands while also imposing levies on them.
“If you fail to pay bandits the levy, they would either abduct you or burn your farm land,” they said.
A BBC Hausa report stated that the Zamfara State Police Command, however, denied the story, saying that no complaints had been lodged in that respect.
A native of Magami said in a telephone interview that the area was in a serious calamity, stressing that “Once you left Gusau, before you reach Magami is a herculean task unless you have an escort.
“Since the killing of MOPOL, in a day, they block the road four to five times. They stop large vehicles and empty the contents. They also impose tax.
“If you go to Magami, a kilometre to Magami, the bandits can stop you, either abduct you or ask you to pay tax.
“From Monday, they set two farms on fire at Magami because of failure to pay tax to the bandits.
“The farmers went to harvest maize on the farm but the bandits stopped them and set the farms on fire. They held two women hostage. The bandits seized a new vehicle belonging to the farmers, but they later released the women.
“The bandits demanded for money. Before the farmers could mobilize and pay them, they set the farms on fire and threatened that if money was not given to them, they would continue to burn the farms.
“Yesterday, the bandits set some places on fire near the entrance to the town, but people teamed up and chased them away before putting off the fire.
“What happened was less than a kilometre to Magami and the place was on the road. They are doing that to show us if money is not paid to them, they would continue to burn people’s farms.
“There are plans to collect money from community members and pay them. But, before that is done, if you dare go to the farm, they would abduct you, burn your farm and demand for ransom. That is our current predicament.”
