No fewer than thirty-six people were killed when suspected bandits stormed Zumba village in Siroro local government area of Niger State, attacking farmers who had refused to comply with their demands for monthly tax payments.
According to sources, the armed men had ordered villagers to pay levies directly to them instead of remitting taxes to the government.
They reportedly threatened to kill any farm owner who refused to pay and vowed to destroy their farmlands.
An eyewitness, identified as Kabir, told The Nation that the attack resulted in multiple fatalities, with several others sustaining various injuries.
Kabir, a farm owner in the area, recalled that the bandits had approached them on February 10, 2022, demanding direct tax payments.
He said that when the farmers refused to comply, the bandits retaliated with a deadly assault on April 3, killing several villagers and leaving many wounded.
He further noted that fear had driven many farmers to flee the village.
Kabir stated that they reported the bandits’ initial visit to their village to the police.
He stated that when the attackers stormed the village, they were calling out Saheed’s name, suggesting that if he had been present that fateful day, his fate would have been uncertain.
“One of the farmers’ leaders, Saheed Muraina, was a primary target. Before launching their attack, the assailants demanded that the villagers hand him over to them. Fortunately, he and his family had traveled to another village the night before. However, his house was set on fire, and several of his workers were attacked,” Kabir said.
Another eyewitness, Tukur Ibrahim, recounted that the bandits arrived in six buses, heavily armed with dangerous weapons, and launched a violent assault on farmers.
“They killed many villagers, including three of my farm workers. Women and children were also murdered, and houses, along with properties, were set ablaze,” Ibrahim said.
He revealed that his friend and child were among those who lost their lives in the incident.
When asked about the amount the bandits demanded as tax, Ibrahim explained that while no specific figure was disclosed, each farmer was taxed based on the size of their farmland.
“They were particularly searching for one of the farmers’ leaders because he had been vocal against their demands,” he added.
Ibrahim further revealed that the entire village had been deserted as residents fled for safety.
“The security agencies have been informed, and we hope normalcy will be restored soon because everyone is in a state of panic,” he said.