Bandits Rule Rural Zamfara Communities As Residents Pay Levies, Attend Prayers With Armed Gunmen

Gusau, Zamfara State– Bandits are operating openly in rural communities of Zamfara State, forcing residents to pay levies or provide food under duress in Dayau, located in Anka Local Government Area, and Dolen Moriki, in Zurmi Local Government Area.

Afrika Eyes gathered that both communities are experiencing sustained bandits’ presence with little to no visible state security infrastructure, effectively leaving residents at the mercy of armed groups.

In Dayau and Dolen Moriki, bandits reportedly move freely through the communities with AK-47 rifles slung over their shoulders, showing no attempt at concealment and no apparent fear of interception by security forces.

Residents say the gunmen enter local markets and shops openly to purchase goods and engage in public interactions, largely driven by coercion rather than acceptance.

A security alert issued by Bakatsine on Friday confirmed that armed bandits have normalised their presence within civilian life in the affected areas.

According to the alert, the gunmen also attend Friday congregational prayers while visibly armed, further underscoring the collapse of state authority in the communities.

Residents report a near-total absence of government presence, including the lack of permanent police deployment, no sustained military operations, and limited or non-existent access to basic services such as electricity.

Community members describe their reality as living under an imposed authority, where bandits effectively regulate daily life, movement, and economic activities.

Several residents explained that they are compelled to pay levies or supply food to the bandits to avoid violent reprisals.

“We are forced to coexist with them. We do not even want the government to provoke them unless it can fully remove them,” the resident said. “If security forces come and leave, the gunmen return to punish us through killings, abductions and preventing farming.”

The testimonies highlight a recurring fear among residents that temporary or poorly sustained security interventions often worsen their situation, as bandits retaliate once security personnel withdraw.