Terrorist Group Order Zamfara Communities To Pay N9 Million, Contribute N6000 Each To Avert Attacks

 

A terrorist group led by one Dullu Kachalla has threatened to attack two communities in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Northwest Nigeria if they refuse to pay N9 million in taxes and levies imposed on them by the group.

 

According to HumAngle, Dullu Kachalla sent a message to Jangeru and Birnin Yero villages in Shinkafi Local Government Area of the state on Sunday, Feb. 13, to brace up for an attack after they failed to meet up with the tax payment.

 

Following negotiations with the terror group, the residents of the two communities agreed to pay N9million as against N40 million requested by the terrorists. They were given two weeks to get the money ready or face attacks.

 

To avert the attack, they are contributing N6000, according to leaders who did not want to be named.

 

 

But they were unable to raise the amount, according to one Garba, a farmer and resident of Jangeru.

 

“We could not raise up to this amount we promised. This is why all of us are in intense fear now. We told and reported to all relevant government agencies and traditional authorities of the catastrophe we are in. But it is done during this rush hour,” Garba said.

 

Bala, another resident, told HumAngle “we are too poor to pay the terror group the agreed N9 million. The two communities could not realise the agreed N9 million within two weeks as promised despite the drastic slash-down and discount of N31 million.”

Local sources told HumAngle that Dullu visited the communities and warned that his ‘men’ would take down anyone found at the outskirts of the two localities.

 

Dr Tijjani Shinkafi, a university don at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, who is familiar with the scales and frequencies of the security affairs in Northwest region of Nigeria said paying the taxes levied by the terror group would not stop them from attacking the communities.

“Even if the tax levied on the communities is paid by the residents, the terror group would not stop attacking the innocent citizens as was the case of Fara village that paid N30 million in December, 2021 to a terror group. The Fara village could not escape, still displaced after scores were killed and many kidnapped. so also many villages in Tsafe, Anka, Zurmi etc,” Dr Shinkafi said.

 

He appealed to the Nigerian Government to come to the rescue of the two despairing communities noting that “this is the first time that the terrorist start demanding tax payment in Shinkafi villages and communities.”