We paid N162 billion in ransoms, levies to bandits - Sokoto Community
Communities in Sabon Birni LGA, Sokoto State, reveal they have paid over ₦162 billion in ransoms and levies to bandits and terrorists, as the situation escalates.
Some communities in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, have said that their people have so far paid over N162 billion in levies and ransoms to bandits and terrorists in the area.
The Gobir Development Association, GDA, spoke while briefing reporters on the activities of bandits and terrorists, noting that payment of ransom and levies to secure their lives had now become the order of the day.
The people were reacting to the recent
killing of their District Head, Muhammad Bawa, by bandits after his abduction along the Sabon Birni – Sokoto Road after an official assignment in Sokoto, the state capital.
killing of their District Head, Muhammad Bawa, by bandits after his abduction along the Sabon Birni – Sokoto Road after an official assignment in Sokoto, the state capital.
In a statement jointly signed by the Chairman of GDA, Idris Hassan and the Secretary, Professor Aliyu Gobir, and read to reporters weekend, they people said that residents also lost over N2 billion to armed bandits and terrorists.
Condemning the rising cases of insecurity in the area, the GDA said, “Over N60 billion has been paid as ransom, while over N100 billion was paid as levies to the bandits, and more than N2 billion lost to armed bandits.
“Likewise, about 600,000 heads of cattle and five million sheep and goats were rustled within the last five years while
about two-thirds of the arable lands are inaccessible due to the fear of being killed or kidnapped by bandits, causing severe economic losses, hardship in terms of food and nutrition security, and psychological and social imbalances.”
They, then urged both the federal and state governments to intercede on their behalf by stopping the killings, kidnappings, displacement of people, and livestock rustling to ensure peace and stability in the affected areas.
Condemning the rising cases of insecurity in the area, the GDA said, “Over N60 billion has been paid as ransom, while over N100 billion was paid as levies to the bandits, and more than N2 billion lost to armed bandits.
“Likewise, about 600,000 heads of cattle and five million sheep and goats were rustled within the last five years while
about two-thirds of the arable lands are inaccessible due to the fear of being killed or kidnapped by bandits, causing severe economic losses, hardship in terms of food and nutrition security, and psychological and social imbalances.”
They, then urged both the federal and state governments to intercede on their behalf by stopping the killings, kidnappings, displacement of people, and livestock rustling to ensure peace and stability in the affected areas.
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