Bandits have imposed a staggering ₦60 million levy on residents of Tashar Kaɗanya, a community in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State, threatening to launch an attack if the payment is not made before their stipulated deadline.

According to information shared by security analyst @DanKatsina50 on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, the threat has triggered panic among residents who have begun fleeing the community for safety.

As of the time of this report, security authorities have not issued any official statement regarding the incident, raising concerns about the response strategy to this latest threat.

This development has reignited serious concerns over the persistent insecurity in parts of Katsina State, despite government efforts to curb banditry in the region. Kankara LGA has long been a hotspot for bandit activities, with numerous incidents of kidnappings for ransom recorded in recent years.

The ₦60 million demand represents an escalation in the bandits' extortion tactics and threatens to further deteriorate the already fragile security and humanitarian situation in the area.

Kankara gained international attention in December 2020 when bandits kidnapped over 300 schoolboys from Government Science Secondary School, who were later released after negotiations.

This latest incident follows a pattern of increasing boldness by criminal groups in Nigeria's northwestern states, where they impose levies on communities, essentially creating parallel taxation systems in areas where government presence is limited.

Residents and security experts continue to call for more decisive action from both state and federal authorities to address the worsening security challenges in the region.