Residents of Yanshuni village in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State have reportedly paid ₦7.5 million to a notorious bandit leader as part of a ₦15 million "tax" imposed on them.

According to a post by security analyst Bakatsine on X (formerly Twitter), the villagers made the part payment on Saturday evening, even as protests were ongoing along the Bakori–Funtua road.

The bandit leader, identified as Kwashen-garwa, had allegedly demanded the full amount from the community, threatening consequences if they failed to comply. Villagers reportedly promised to pay the remaining ₦7.5 million after the farming season.

“Yanshuni residents paid ₦7.5M to bandit leader Kwashen-garwa, half of the ₦15M tax he imposed on them. The rest is due after harvest,” Bakatsine wrote.

This disturbing development highlights the worsening insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria, where bandits continue to extort, terrorize, and dominate rural communities with little resistance.

As of the time of this report, government authorities and security agencies have not issued any official response to the incident. Residents continue to live in fear, with many calling on the government to urgently restore law and order in the affected areas.