RESIDENTS of Gidan-goga Village in Zamfara State’s Maradun Local Government Area have finally paid the N20 million tax that Bello Turji, the dreaded bandit leader, imposed on them.
Recall that Turji had imposed the N20 million levy on the villagers and demanded that they pay the money by yesterday November 27 at the latest, or face his wrath.
He threatened to attack the village if the money was not paid on or before the deadline.
An indigene of the area who begged for anonymity on security reasons, revealed to that the money was paid yesterday (Sunday) adding that some people who fled to other places, had started returning to the village.
“Many people including myself have returned to the village because of the payment of the levy.”
He stressed that an additional amount of N6m was also paid by the community for the release of five people abducted by Turji’s men some weeks ago.
“We paid additional sum of N6 million for the release of five people abducted by the terrorists who belonged to Bello Turji’s camp.”
Efforts to get comments from the spokesperson of the state police command, SP Mohammed Shehu, failed as he could not be reached on phone as at the time of filling this report.
