As the people of Sokoto State, especially those in Sabon Birni Local Government Area, continue to battle insecurity, a group of professionals within the local government, Gobir Development Association, has revealed that the people of the community paid over N160bn in levies and ransom payments to bandits in the area.

According to a press statement signed by the chairman of the group, Idris Alhassan Gatawa, and its secretary, Professor Aliyu Gobir, and made available to newsmen in the state on Saturday, it was said that more than two billion naira was also lost to armed bandits.

The group, while reacting to the recent killing of their District Head, Muhammad Bawa, who was killed by bandits following his abduction along Sabon Birni – Sokoto Road after his official engagement in the state capital, condemned the rising case of insecurity in the area.

The group said, “Over sixty billion naira has been paid as ransom, over a hundred billion naira paid as imposed levies by the bandits, and more than two billion naira lost to armed bandits.

“Likewise, about six hundred thousand heads of cattle and five million sheep and goats were rustled within the last five years.

“About two-thirds of the arable farmlands are inaccessible due to the fear of being killed or kidnapped by bandits, causing severe economic losses, hardship in terms of food and nutrition security, and psychological and social imbalances.”

They, however, appealed to the government at all levels to act swiftly to stop the killings, kidnappings, displacement of people, and livestock rustling to restore peace and stability in all areas affected by banditry. (Sunday PUNCH: Text, Excluding Headline)