Residents flee as bandit leader imposes ₦100m levies on 23 Zamfara communities
Story by Dajen Comfort Yakubu 
Hundreds of residents across 23 communities in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State have fled their homes for fear of being attacked by the notorious bandits’ leader, Dogo Gide if they fail to pay the levies he placed on them.
Confirming the incident to _Daily Trust_ on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the press, a lawmaker in the Zamfara State House of Assembly said over two-thirds of residents of the affected communities have fled their homes for fear of attack by the bandits.
“I can confirm to you that hundreds of residents in Tsafe West have fled their homes because of the hefty levies imposed on them by the bandits.
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“Sincerely speaking, the bandits have changed their mode of operations in recent days because killing and kidnapping have subsided, to the barest level in this area but they are collecting huge money from their victims as levies. People are paying huge sums of money in silence as levies to the bandits.”
Also, confirming the development, the Zamfara State Police Commissioner, CP Muhammad Shehu Dalija, said: “Yes, I was briefed by the Area Commander in charge of Gusau Zone that the notorious bandits’ leader, Dogo Gide, has imposed levies on some communities in Tsafe Local Government.
“Though we have not heard about the fleeing of residents from their homes, there is every possibility for them to vacate their residences to avoid attack by the bandits. If they fail to pay the levies, the bandits can attack them.
“However, we are mobilising more security personnel, including soldiers, DSS and mobile policemen, to the affected areas to protect the residents against any possible attacks by the bandits.
“I want to assure the affected communities of the deployment of more security personnel to protect them. This is unacceptable; we cannot fold our arms watching the bandits terrorising residents. We must ensure that law and order are respected in the state and whoever tries to breach peace will pay the consequences of his actions.”
It was gathered that, Dogo Gide had placed levies of over ₦100m on the 23 communities mainly situated in Tsafe West, Tsafe Local Government Area of the state.
The affected communities include Kunchin-Kalgo ₦20m, Sungawa ₦15m, Rakyabu ₦15, Kwaren Mai-Saje ₦10m, Magazawa ₦10m, Gijin-Zama ₦8.5m, Giwa ₦7m, Kauyen Magaji ₦7m, Barebari ₦6m, Unguwar Rogo ₦5m, Machiya ₦5m and Katuga ₦5m.
Other communities are Magazu ₦5m, Tsageru ₦5m, Gidan-Anne ₦7m, Unguwar Dan Halima ₦5m, Kauyen-Kane ₦5m, Kurar-Mota ₦6m, Kibari ₦3m, Sabon-Garin Bakin Gulbi ₦2.5m, Karda ₦5m, Dakolo ₦5m and Yalwa ₦2.7m.
A resident of Magazawa, Yusuf Dalhatu also confirmed to _Daily Trust_ on the phone that several residents have fled the villages for fear of attack.
Dalhatu added “As I am speaking with you, I am in Gusau and my family are in Tsafe town. I cannot stay in Magazu because the bandits can at any time come to the village to collect the levy and if they do not get what they want, they will surely sack the village.
“My brother, Ibrahim and his family have relocated to Tsafe. Several people have left the Magazu community because of the uncertainty.”
Also, a resident of Machiya, Isa Inuwa Machiya said “Our village is presently empty. At the time I left the community, only Baba Shehu Dogo, Inuwa Mai Garma and Muhammad Bello Machiya were left there and they too were planning to leave because they have since sent their families to other communities that are not affected by this unfortunate development,” he said.
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