Residents of Zurmi local government area of Zamfara State are still living in palpable fear as the forty eight hours dateline issued to them by the bandit leader Bello Turji is elapsing midnight.
A resident of the area who spoke to exclusive to this medium said five out of the seven elders of the Moriki community who took the risk of taking 50% of the ransom to the bandit’s camp were abducted.
He narrated that a popular Zamfara bandit leader Bello Turji last week enforce a levy of N20M naira on the people of Moriki community.
He said, the residents of the town were asked to pay the sum of N6,500 each to made up the an20M levy while women were asked to contribute N1,500.
He noted that even with the economic hardship the residents of the community were able to contribute a total of N10.5M and decided to deliver the money raised as as advanced pending when the remaining money were raised.
He told this medium that seven people were selected within the community for them to deliver the ransom but five were abducted by the bandit leader Bello demonstrating his anger over the inability of the community people to raise the complete money requested.
He noted that the two elders were asked to come and briefed the community on the need for them to raise the remaining balance of N9.5M within 24 hours.
He said the people of the area are working harder to ensure that the balance of money is raised within the time frame.
He said, so far people of the area who are opportune to leave had already deserted their homes in search of safer places.