Some retired generals have stated that the Nigerian military is unable to prevent residents in certain troubled areas from paying levies and ransoms to bandits, despite ongoing counterterrorism efforts.
The former officers expressed doubts about the military’s ability to stop residents from complying with bandits’ demands, citing fears of violent reprisals.
Since banditry evolved into an organized crime involving mass abductions, village raids, and extortion in northern Nigeria, farming communities have been forced to pay heavy levies, ransoms, and taxes to various bandit and terror groups.
These levies range from N20 million to as high as N200 million, with bandit leaders threatening to attack farms and homes if their demands are not met. States affected include 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 compelled to sell their farm produce to raise N20 million in levies imposed by bandits. Each resident had to contribute N50,000 to avoid an attack.
Similarly, in September 2024, residents of Moriki town in the Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State struggled to gather N30 million demanded by the notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji. In January 2025, another notorious bandit leader, Dantsito, threatened to attack communities in Tsafe LGA, Zamfara State, unless they paid a N200 million levy within two weeks.
Just last week, Sokoto State House of Assembly member Aminu Boza revealed that Turji had imposed a N25 million levy on villages in Sabon Birni Constituency.
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According to the Gobir Development Association, a local professional group, residents in affected council areas have collectively paid over N160 billion in levies and ransoms to bandits.
Despite this, the Defence Headquarters has consistently urged northern residents not to yield to bandits’ threats and financial demands.
Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, retired General Ishola Williams, a former Commandant of Army Signals and Chief of Defence Training and Planning, emphasized that deep-seated distrust in the military continues to push residents to comply with bandits’ demands.
He stressed the urgent need to restore public confidence in the military’s ability to protect civilians.
“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.”
Likewise, retired Brig. Gen. John Sura, a former Commander of the 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, noted that residents of remote northern communities often find it difficult to follow the military’s advice against paying levies, as the absence of a consistent security presence leaves them vulnerable to 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, speaking on condition of anonymity, pointed to insufficient military personnel as a key factor in their failure to ensure 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.”
(Punch)
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