Residents of Bilbis town in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State are reportedly living in fear after armed bandits allegedly imposed a curfew and demanded a ₦30 million levy from the community.
Reports circulating on social media indicated that the attackers ordered residents to remain indoors and warned that anyone who defies the directive could face violent consequences until the demanded payment is made.
A security analyst on X, Bakatsine, who posts under the handle @DanKatsina50, claimed that the gunmen had effectively locked down the town.
According to him, residents have been confined to their homes while the attackers enforce the curfew.
“People are terrified. Everyone has been ordered indoors, and no one can leave until the ransom is paid,” he wrote.
Bilbis is known as the hometown of Ikira Aliyu Bilbis, the senator representing the Zamfara Central Senatorial District.
Residents say the situation has disrupted normal life in the community, affecting commercial activities, schooling and daily routines.
A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity described the atmosphere as tense and uncertain.
“We are living in constant fear. Nobody knows when the bandits will strike next. The town feels like it’s under siege,” the source said.
The incident highlights the ongoing security challenges facing communities in Zamfara, where armed groups have repeatedly carried out kidnappings, attacks and extortion in rural areas.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Nigeria Police Force proved unsuccessful as the spokesperson for the command in Zamfara, Yazid Abubakar, could not be reached for comment as of the time this report was filed.
The development has renewed concerns about the need for stronger security operations to protect vulnerable communities and curb the activities of armed groups in the region.