By Ismail Auwal

Bandits have imposed N24 million levy on nine communities in Zamfara state’s Bukkuyum LGA.

The bandits threatened to attack the communities in letters delivered to them by released captives if the levies were not paid on time.

The levied communities are Gaude, Tungar Gebe, Wawan Iccen Ibrahim, Wawan Iccen Salihu, Galle, Nannarki, Ruwan Kura, Gangara, and Yargalma, according to the Daily Trust.

According to a resident, district heads who saw the letter alerted authorities about the development.

“The levied communities cut across four districts and some of the villages have started mobilizing to pay the money to avoid raids by the armed criminals,” he said.

The communities were asked to pay levies ranging from N5 million to N500,000.

The development is coming some days after bandits invaded about five communities located in Bukkuyum and Anka LGAs of the state.

Survivors of the attack said bandits killed over 200 villagers and set many houses ablaze but Bello Matawalle, governor of the state, said only 58 people were killed in the attack.