Villagers pay N40m protection levy to bandits in Katsina as Tinubu ends visit
Bandits have sustained attacks on communities in Doma axis of Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, where the gunmen have forced residents to pay protection levy.
A resident told The Syndicate on condition of anonymity that they have had no peace in the last three weeks because of the daily raids and abductions by the bandits with no defined response from security forces.
“We have been facing attacks from bandits for more than three weeks, which has escalated in Doma axis, and this has made most of our neighbours in places like Guga, Kandarawa and Kakumi to evacuate.
“All the villages around Doma have entered into a peace accord with the bandits. Even yesterday, the communities gave the bandits N40 million protection levy.
“Also yesterday, May 3, 2025, the gunmen attacked Labo village in Bakori Local Government, killed one Kabir Ajilo and a little girl Naja’atu Ali, while her mother was injured when she tried to protect the girl from the bandits.
“This happened while our leaders were celebrating in Katsina and shouting “KATSINA BA ƘORAHI” as they received President Bola Tinubu. As they celebrated there, the people of Unguwar Labo, Guga Ward, Bakori LGA, were mourning their dead and crying over the abduction of 17 members of the community.”
The source said the response of government and security forces to the security situation in the area was very poor, and urged those responsible to wake up from their slumber.
