Gunmen have once again struck terror in the hearts of over 100 residents in Mutumji, Sabongari Mahuta, Kwanar Dutsi, and Unguwar Kawo communities of Maru Local Government Area in Zamfara State. The abduction was carried out as a result of the failure of the villagers to pay the levies imposed on them.

According to reports gathered by Media Talk Africa, the bandits have continuously threatened and terrorized the communities due to their inability to meet the levies that were imposed on them.

Alhaji Muhammad Usman, a villager from Mutumji, recounted the harrowing experience to Media Talk Africa, stating that the bandits launched their attack around 8 pm, unleashing a barrage of gunfire that sent residents fleeing for safety.

He further revealed that the kingpin of the bandits in the area, Damina, had imposed a staggering N110 million levy on the communities for their harvests. The communities were given a two-week ultimatum to comply or face dire consequences.

“Our community was burdened with a N50 million levy, while Kwanar Dutsi and Sabongari Mahuta were imposed N30 million and N20 million respectively, and Unguwar Kawo faced a levy of N10 million,” he added.

Another source in the area disclosed that the communities had begun gathering the funds when the terrorists launched their assault on Friday evening.

Efforts to reach the spokesman of the State’s Police command proved abortive as of the time of filing this report.

This incident comes on the heels of another abduction just a week ago, when villagers were taken in Ruwandoruwa community within the same Local Government Area. Earlier in the year, the bandits had also killed a Divisional Police Officer and some police officers in Maru town within the same Local Government Area of the State.