Bandits appoint new commander, impose N200,000 arms levy on Zamfara villages

Suspected armed bandits, operating under notorious kingpin, Ado Aleiro have reportedly appointed a new field commander following the recent death of Kachalla Iliya Mai Rasha, while communities in parts of Zamfara State are allegedly being forced to contribute money for the purchase of weapons.

The development was reported by security analyst, Zagazola Makama.

According to the report, the appointment is part of efforts by the gang to reorganise its operations after recent military offensives targeting bandit enclaves across the North-West.

Makama reported that although the identity of the newly appointed commander has not yet been disclosed, bandit emissaries have allegedly imposed a N200,000 levy on each village in the western axis of Tsafe Local Government Area.

According to Makama, the levy is expected to generate about N25 million, which the group allegedly intends to use to purchase additional weapons and ammunition.

The report further claimed that at least 10 bandit commanders, popularly known as Kachallas, were buried in Kizara village, west of Tsafe, following recent military operations, while several others reportedly sustained injuries.

Makama also quoted residents familiar with the activities of the armed groups as saying the bandits had complained about increasing difficulty in rustling livestock within Zamfara because of sustained military operations.

“Bandits, who return from raids have been telling their local contacts that they now travel much farther into remote areas in search of livestock, claiming that there are few animals left to rustle within Zamfara due to sustained security operations and repeated cattle theft,” the report stated.

The report noted that the claims by the residents could not be independently verified.

However, according to Makama, security sources said they were monitoring reports of the new leadership structure and the alleged collection of levies from rural communities as part of ongoing intelligence efforts aimed at disrupting the group’s logistics and financing network.

The report added that recent operations under Operation FANSAN YAMMA have intensified pressure on bandit groups across Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto states, resulting in the reported elimination of several notorious commanders and the disruption of their operational bases.