Some retired generals have stated that the Nigerian military cannot prevent residents in some troubled areas from paying levies and ransoms to bandits, despite ongoing counterterrorism efforts.
The retired officers expressed doubts about the ability of the military to stop the residents from meeting the bandits’ demands amid fears of attacks.
Since banditry became an organised crime involving mass abductions, village raids, and extortion in northern Nigeria, residents of farming communities in the region have been forced to pay heavy levies, ransoms, and taxes to various bandit and terror groups.
The levies ranged from N20m to as high as N200m, with bandit kingpins threatening to attack and wreak havoc on farms and homes if their demands are not met.
Some of the affected states are Benue, Niger, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna.
In July 2024, residents of the Toro community in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State were forced to sell their farm produce to raise N20m levy imposed on them by bandits. The people had to contribute N50,000 each to avoid being attacked.
The people of Moriki town in the Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State also struggled to raise N30m levy imposed on them by the notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, in September last year.
Earlier in January 2025, another notorious bandit leader, Dantsito, threatened to attack communities in the Tsafe LGA of Zamfara State if they failed to pay him N200m levy within two weeks.
Last week, a member of the Sokoto State House of Assembly representing Sabon Birni Constituency, Aminu Boza, said Turji imposed a N25m levy on some villages in the state.
According to the Gobir Development Association, a group of professionals in the local government, residents of the council areas had paid over N160bn in levies and ransom to bandits.
However, the Defence Headquarters has repeatedly urged northern residents not to succumb to bandits’ threats and financial demands.
Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, a former Commandant of Army Signals and Chief of Defence Training and Planning, Gen. Ishola Williams (retd.), noted that the people’s deep-seated distrust in the military would continually push them to comply with bandits’ demands.
He said there was a need to restore the people’s confidence in the capacity of the military to protect residents.
“People don’t trust the military anymore. If the people knew that by refusing to pay the levy, the military would take action against those demanding it, no one would waste their money. So, it is an issue of trust.
“Secondly, there must be some people within the affected communities who are also benefiting from the levies and ransoms paid by the people to the bandits. That is why community policing is very important.”
Similarly, a former Commander of the 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. John Sura (retd.), said residents of remote communities in the northern region would always struggle to heed the military’s advice of not paying levies due to a lack of consistent security presence to deter bandit attacks.
“If someone stronger than you threatens to kill you unless you give him something, you will typically have no choice but to comply,” he said.
Sura maintained that the military couldn’t be everywhere, saying, “Their presence is usually concentrated at local government headquarters or stationed at major road junctions leading into towns. But these villages are often far away—sometimes five to 10 kilometers. So how do you expect the military to respond swiftly?
“It is, therefore, expected that residents will seek ways to defend themselves, primarily through local security forces like the Forest Guard in Benue State. That was the approach some communities in Bauchi adopted. They inflicted such heavy losses on the bandits that they never returned.
“However, in the absence of such security measures, people have little choice but to pay ransoms and levies to ensure their survival and peace.”
Another retired general, who requested anonymity, cited the military’s inadequate manpower as a major factor contributing to their inability to provide adequate security.
He said, “The security agencies can make announcements and say, ‘Don’t fear them (bandits),’ but you know why you fear them—because they are right there on your streets. That’s how difficult this war is.
“Do you know the size of our military population? You can’t have such a limited number and expect the military to be everywhere. For instance, in Sokoto, where people pay such levies, the military isn’t there. They only come for operations and then leave. But the bandits remain with the people constantly.
“So, if the bandits are forcing people to pay levies, who do you think they will obey? Those who come and go, or the ones who stay, armed and in control?” It is the same with the police. Do you have policemen in every local government? You may have a police station in each one, but that doesn’t mean there are officers in all the villages.
“If criminals attack these villages and harass the people, the people will fear the criminals because they see them every day.”
