Residents of Maradun, the hometown of Nigeria's Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, are currently living in fear following serious threats from a notorious bandit leader identified as Jummo, who has demanded a ₦20 million payment from the community.
According to reports from the Zamfara State community, the bandit leader has threatened to launch a violent assault on the town if residents fail to comply with his financial demands, which he described as a protection fee.
In an audio message circulated to locals, Jummo insisted that his men must be granted unrestricted access to local markets and allowed to move their cattle freely across the area without interference. He claimed this would be the only condition under which residents could safely access their farmlands.
"There is nothing stopping us from attacking Maradun," the bandit leader warned in his message. "Let me tell the people of this town, I can mobilize support from over 100 other bandit leaders and together, we can take over Maradun anytime we want."
Jummo further threatened that unless the ₦20 million is paid, farmers should forget about agricultural activities as his gang would block access to farmlands. "Our boys will begin to patrol the area. Farmers will be sent back home. No one will be allowed to cultivate their land unless the money is paid," he added.
Community Stands Defiant
Despite these intimidating threats, the community has shown remarkable courage by refusing to yield to the demands. Many residents have rejected the idea of raising money to pay criminals, viewing it as legitimizing extortion.
"No one is going to entertain the idea of paying money to this terrorist," said a local farmer who spoke on condition of anonymity. "We are not going to negotiate with bandits."
The farmer called on both the Zamfara State government and the Federal Government to take swift and decisive action by dislodging the armed groups hiding in the Bayan Ruwa area, which he described as having become a safe haven for terrorists.
This incident highlights the ongoing security challenges in Nigeria's northwestern region, where banditry has disrupted rural livelihoods and agricultural activities. The situation is particularly concerning given that Maradun is the hometown of the current Minister of State for Defence, raising questions about the government's ability to protect communities from such threats.
Security experts have noted that the practice of demanding protection fees from communities has become increasingly common among bandits operating in the northwest, creating a parallel taxation system that undermines government authority and further impoverishes rural communities.
As of the time of this report, neither the state government nor federal security agencies have issued an official response to the threat against Maradun community.
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