Residents of Bakale in Kilgori district, Yabo local government area of Sokoto state, have been asked to pay N20 million to prevent attacks by bandits.
An audio obtained by Daily Trust captures the leader of the group directing the village head to gather residents for the announcement.
“Did you meet with them? Did they agree to obey your command?” he asked.
After receiving confirmation, he ordered a fresh meeting to tell the villagers about the payment.
“We don’t want to attack you. That is why we decided to impose this levy. If you pay, I promise you will continue to live in peace,” he said.
He warned of consequences if the community fails to comply.
“We will not allow any group to attack your community or kidnap your people. But if you fail to pay, we will attack you, kill you, and abduct your people,” the bandits’ leader warned.
A community leader, who asked not to be named, said several neighbouring villages had received similar directives.
He listed the affected communities as Bazar, Alkalije, Gari, Bakale, Dagel, Adarawa, Kwaidaza, Kilgori Runji, Tudu, Tile, Kibiyare and Barmadu.
He said the demanded payments range between N3 million and N20 million, depending on the size of the settlements, adding that six people were recently killed in Alkalije and four in Tile.