Bandits threaten to takeover Sokoto community, demand N40m levy

Residents of Kebbe Town in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State are allegedly facing a fresh security threat after suspected bandits demanded N40 million from the community and threatened to attack the town if the money is not paid.

According to local sources, the bandits reportedly communicated the demand through a farmer who delivered a telephone to the District Head of Kebbe, Mallam Lawal Labbo.

Arewa PUNCH gathered that the criminals were said to have initially given the residents five days to raise the money before extending the deadline, following appeals from the community members.

According to our sources, the telephone was subsequently handed over to the Divisional Police Officer in the area.

More information revealed that the bandits allegedly warned that the phone must remain charged and reachable, threatening to attack the town if their calls were not answered.

Confirming the development, the Sokoto State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Ahmed Rufai, said the command was aware of the reported threat.

“We are aware of the information and we, together with our Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU), are already working on the information,” Rufai said.

However, he said the bandits had reportedly given the villagers an ultimatum extending to Sunday to raise the demanded money.

The development has sparked concern among residents, who are now faced with the threat of possible attack should the demand not be met.

Reacting to the report, the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, described the situation as “grave” and called on the Sokoto State and federal governments to take urgent steps to protect the community.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Aminu Abdullahi, Dan’iya said the reported demand represented an alarming level of criminal control over the lives and economic activities of residents.

“What has happened to those promises? What has the APC government in Sokoto done differently to stop bandits from dictating terms to our communities?” he asked.

Dan’iya said the reported threat should serve as an urgent warning to the government, arguing that communities should not be left to negotiate their survival with criminal groups.

He called on Governor Ahmed Aliyu and the federal government to urgently deploy additional security personnel, intelligence resources and operational support to Kebbe and other vulnerable communities before the reported deadline.

Sokoto is under siege and the people cannot afford another tragedy. Government must stop treating insecurity as a political talking point and start treating it as the emergency it is,” Dan’iya said.

He also urged security agencies to work closely with traditional rulers and local communities to prevent any possible attack, while calling on residents to take the threat seriously and cooperate with security personnel.

Efforts to obtain the reaction of the District Head of Kebbe, Mallam Lawal Labbo, were unsuccessful, as calls to his telephone number were not answered as of the time of filing this report.

Our correspondent further reports that the threat comes amid continuing security concerns in parts of Sokoto State, where communities have faced attacks, abductions and displacement linked to banditry.