Residents of Kebbi town in Kebbi Local Government Area of Sokoto are facing heightened security concerns following a reported demand by suspected bandits for a N40 million levy.

The gunmen allegedly threatened to attack and set the town ablaze if residents failed to raise the money within a stipulated deadline.

According to local sources, the bandits conveyed the demand through a farmer, who delivered a telephone handset to the District Head of Kebbi, Mallam Lawal Labbo.

The bandits reportedly initially gave the community five days to raise the money but later extended the deadline following appeals from residents.

The telephone was subsequently handed over to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area.

The gunmen allegedly instructed that the phone must remain charged and reachable, warning that failure to answer their calls could trigger an attack on the community.

Confirming the development, the Sokoto State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Ahmed Rufai, said the command was aware of the reported threat and had commenced efforts to address the situation.

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

He added that the bandits had reportedly given the community an ultimatum extending to Sunday to raise the demanded N40 million.

The development has heightened anxiety among residents, with fears of a possible attack if the demand is not met.

Reacting to the report, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Sokoto, Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, described the situation as “grave” and urged the state and Federal Governments to take immediate action to protect the community.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Aminu Abdullahi, Dan’iya said the reported levy demand indicated 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, stressing 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 Kebbi and other vulnerable communities.

“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,” he said.

The ADC candidate also urged security agencies to strengthen collaboration with traditional rulers and local communities to prevent any possible attack, while calling on residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security personnel.

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

The reported threat comes amid continuing insecurity in parts of Sokoto, where several communities have experienced attacks, abductions, cattle rustling, and displacement linked to banditry. (Nigerian Tribune)