- Bandits issue ₦10 million ultimatum to Zamfara community
- Criminals also demand AK-47 rifle and three Honda motorcycles
- Residents of Mai Tukunya village begin mass displacement
- Families flee with children and elderly amid rising fear
Residents of Mai Tukunya in Maru Local Government Area have begun fleeing their homes after armed bandits issued a final ultimatum demanding ₦10 million, an AK-47 rifle, and three Honda motorcycles as conditions for allowing them to remain in the village.
Entire families, including children and elderly residents, have reportedly started leaving the community, trekking under the harsh sun with little certainty about where they will find safety.
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The mass displacement follows the ultimatum issued by the armed group operating in the area.
According to security analyst Bakatsine, a resident described how the demand has worsened the suffering of families already struggling after years of insecurity.
“For a population that has spent more than a decade struggling under constant threats, the demand was not only unrealistic but devastating,” the analyst said.
He explained that many residents have already been pushed into poverty due to repeated attacks by bandits.
“Many families had already been pushed into poverty by years of violence. Farms had become unsafe, businesses collapsed and livelihoods disappeared. The wealth they once had slowly faded into hardship, leaving behind hunger, fear and uncertainty.”
Residents say life in the community had already become extremely dangerous even before the latest ultimatum.
According to local accounts, armed groups frequently attack villages, making everyday activities such as farming, trading, and traveling extremely risky.
“Life in the community had become a daily gamble with death,” the resident reportedly said.
Many villagers fear that remaining in the area could expose them to attacks, abductions, or other violent incidents.
The situation highlights the ongoing security challenges in Zamfara State, where bandit attacks have forced thousands of residents to abandon their homes in recent years.
Communities across several local government areas have faced repeated raids, kidnappings, and extortion demands from armed groups operating in the region.
Security experts warn that continued displacement could worsen humanitarian conditions as families move to neighbouring towns and internally displaced persons camps.
