From Maiharaji Altine, Gusau
The five communiti in Gusau local government area of Zamfara state are living in total fear following the letters sent to them by the bandits, demanding N7m from each of the five communities, totalling to N35m within a week.
The affected villages are, Banfara-babba, Gidan Doraiyi, Banfara-Karama, Zamfarawa and Unguwar-tofa.
Narrating this ordeal to Analyzer news on phone, an indigene of the area who hails from Unguwar-tofa, Malam Sani Mohammed said, the bandits have sent the letters to the affected communities last Wednesday through their respective community leaders.
Mohammed said, the bandits have given one week ultimatum for the money to be given to them or else they would destroy the entire villages.
“They wrote the letters in Hausa language where they directed each of the villages to hasten the collection of N7m from members of their respective communities and forward the amount to them within a week”.
“We have already started collecting the money from members of the comminities and we hope to meet up their demand before the expiration of the time”.
“Because we know that they will come and attack us if we fail to produce the money”.
Mohammed lamented that, due to lack of security personnel within the areas, the bandits have been subjecting the inhabitants of the five villages.
He declared that, even if they paid the money now, the bandits would still return to demand for for.
“They will still come back one day to look for more money if they spend the ones we are going to give them now”.
When asked by Analyzer if they have informed the security personnel about their pradicament, Mohammed said, “We complained to them times without number, but nothing was done to us yet”.
He maintained that, many people have secretly fled to other areas, as acccording to him, “the bandits will not allow people to go way”.
Contacted for comment the spokesperson of the state police command SP Mohammed Shehu said, “We have already deployed additional security personnel to the affected villages”.
He said, “A combined team of the police and other security sister agencies have been drafted to ensure total peace in the affected villages.
“We are calling on the people of the state to continue giving the security personnel the necessary information that will lead to the the success of the fight against banditry”.