Residents of Moriki town, in Zamfara State, are in distress as the deadline to pay a N30 million levy imposed by notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has passed.
Recall that the levy was imposed after military forces killed over 100 of Turji’s cattle, prompting him to demand payment or threaten violence.
Many villagers are fleeing, while others, due to economic hardship or health issues, remain behind. Despite attempts to raise the funds, the community has fallen short.
In response, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, vowed that the military would soon capture Turji and end such bandit-imposed levies.
Musa emphasised the need for community support to combat the threat and urged locals not to assist the bandits. The military has also restructured operations in the region to better address security challenges.
