From Maiharaji Altine
Four communities in Maru local government area of Zamfara state have been deserted by the inhabitants following the abduction of 110 people by bandits for refusing to pay N110 million monthly levy to notorious bandits kingpin Damina.
Recall that, the bandits have on last Friday night invaded four villages in the Maru local government area of the state where they abducted 110 people for refusing to settle N110 million levy imposed by the notorious bandits kingpin called Damana.
An indigene of the area, Ibrahim Mohammed told Analyzer news on phone that, people of the four villages of Mutumji, Kwana, Mahuta and Unguwar kawo have fled to Balele town and other places for safety as the bandits leader Damana sent a warning letter that he would come back and abduct more people if the N110 million levy was not paid within one week.
“We have to flee to other places due to the fear that, after abducting 110 people, the leader of the bandits, Damana sent a warning letter to us, that we must pay for the levy within a week or else he would send his men to come and abduct more people”.
Mohammed explained that, the bandits kingpin directed each of the four communities to pay certain amount of money to make up the total sum of N110 million.
According to him, Mutumji village would pay N50m, kwana N30 million, Mahuta N20 million and Unguwar kawo would pay N10 million totalling the sum of N110 million.
Mohammed narrated that the four villages were currently empty, stressing that, there were only animals and the sick persons who could not go anywhere.
“The only thing you will see if you go to those villages are the animals and the sick persons or the old ones who cannot treck to other places”.
Mohammed maintained that, Damana has been collecting levy within the four villages, lamenting that, the authorities were aware of their predicament but did not protect them.
“He said, “We have been paying levy to the bandits just because we have nobody to protect us and we have been reporting this issue to both the state and the local government authorities but nothing has been done”.
“We are still calling on the federal government to please come to our aid”.
“We have been in a terrible situation in the last four years”.
“We have yet to harvest our crops because we could not settle the amount N110 million imposed on us by the bandits”.
All efforts made by Analyzer news to speak to the spokesperson of the state police command ASP Yazid Abubakar failed as he could not be reached on phone.
