By Ade Iyamoye
Despite ongoing counterterrorism efforts, the Nigerian military cannot prevent residents from paying levies and ransoms to bandits, retired generals have admitted.
With bandits imposing taxes ranging from N20 million to N200 million on farming communities across Benue, Niger, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna, residents are left with little choice but to comply or face deadly attacks.
A retired general, speaking anonymously, blamed military manpower shortages, stating, “The military isn’t present in these villages. They only come for operations and leave, while the bandits remain.”
General Ishola Williams (retd.) added that distrust in the military’s ability to protect communities fuels the payments.
“If people were confident that the military would act, they wouldn’t pay,” he said.
Another retired officer, Brig. Gen. John Sura (retd.), emphasized that without consistent security presence, rural dwellers will continue to meet bandits’ demands.
“If someone threatens to kill you, you’ll have no choice but to pay,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the Gobir Development Association revealed that residents have paid over N160 billion in ransom and levies to bandits, highlighting the worsening security crisis in northern Nigeria.
