Martins Olasehinde
A notorious bandit leader in Nigeria’s northwestern state of Zamfara, Dantsito, has given communities in the Tsafe Local Government Area of the state two weeks to raise and pay him a levy of ₦200 million, or risk bloody attack, a local newspaper reported, citing a community source, who said locals have started fleeing.
Dantsito demanded the levy be paid either in cash or food items, the source, identified as Mohammed Rabo, told The Punch newspaper.
Each community has been assigned a specific amount, with threats to burn down villages if payment is not made within two weeks.
Some of the affected communities face levies as high as ₦14 million in Dankolo, ₦15 million in Sungawa, and ₦20 million in Kunchin Kalgo, while others have been ordered to pay amounts ranging between ₦2.5 million and ₦10 million.
Rabo revealed that some residents had begun making partial payments, while those unable to afford cash are providing foodstuffs like beans and maize.
“This is not the first time they’ve imposed levies,” he lamented. “When they run out of funds, they return to extort us again. Many who cannot pay have fled to safer areas, leaving their homes behind.
“We have been reporting the issue to the security agents, but up till now, the situation is not brought under control.”
Despite multiple reports to security agencies, there has been little action to address the situation, The Punch newspaper reported.
The Zamfara State Police Command’s spokesman ASP Yazid Abubakar and the spokesman for Operation Hadarin Daji, Suleiman Omale, could not be reached for comments.
According to the news outlet, Dantsito, whose name means “the little” in English, is the younger brother of the notorious bandit kingpin, Ado Aliero. Both siblings, natives of the area, have long terrorised communities from their hideout in the forests near the Gusau-Funtuwa Road.
Follow the KOIKIMEDIA NEWS 🗞 CHANNEL on WhatsApp