Bandits Impose Curfew, Demand ₦30 Million Levy on Zamfara Community

Residents of Bilbis town in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State are living in fear after suspected bandits imposed a tight curfew on the community and demanded a ₦30 million levy.

According to reports circulating on social media, the gunmen have effectively locked down the town, restricting movement and threatening to attack residents if the payment is not made. Bilbis is the hometown of Senator Ikira Aliyu Bilbis, who represents the Zamfara Central Senatorial District.

A post by user Bakatsine (@DanKatsina50) detailed the situation, stating that community members have been confined to their homes and barred from leaving the area until the ransom is fulfilled.

“People are terrified. Everyone has been ordered indoors, and no one can leave until the ransom is paid,” the post read.

Residents confirmed that the lockdown has brought normal life to a standstill, disrupting trade, farming, and access to education. Many now live in constant fear of an attack.

“We are living in constant fear. Nobody knows when the bandits will strike next. The town feels like it’s under siege,” one resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told SaharaReporters.

Efforts to obtain an official response from the Zamfara State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Yazid Abubakar, could not be reached for comment at the time of filing this report.

The incident highlights the worsening security situation in Zamfara State, where bandit groups frequently target rural communities for kidnappings, extortion, and violence. Observers say the latest development calls for urgent military and police intervention to prevent further escalation and protect vulnerable populations in the region.