Residents of Yargoje and surrounding communities in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State are living in fear after notorious bandit leader Mustapha Babaro imposed a massive N50 million levy on them.
The Threatening Ultimatum
According to security analyst and journalist Bakatsine, Babaro issued a stern warning to the villages on Saturday, November 22, 2025. The bandit leader explicitly stated that failure to pay the enormous levy within the set deadline would result in severe repercussions for the communities.
The N50 million demand comes despite the area having participated in two separate peace parleys with bandits in less than three months. This development has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of security strategies being employed in the region.
Questioning Peace Agreements
Security analyst Bakatsine expressed deep concern about the situation, questioning what kind of truce local authorities in Katsina State are actually reaching with bandits. "If this can happen in an LGA that held two peace parleys with bandits in less than 3 months, what kind of truce are local authorities in Katsina State actually reaching and how effective is it in protecting communities?" Bakatsine queried.
This is particularly troubling given that Babaro was among the high-profile bandit leaders who attended a peace dialogue convened by leaders of Faskari LGA on Sunday, September 14, 2025. That meeting was organized in a bid to bring an end to the relentless killings and kidnappings plaguing the area.
Violent Track Record
According to security analyst Zagazola Makam, Babaro is believed to have spearheaded the recent brutal attack on a mosque in Mantau village, Malumfashi LGA. That attack resulted in the tragic death of 32 innocent worshippers and left many others injured.
Zagazola added that Babaro has been consistently terrorizing the Kankara and Malumfashi areas, creating an atmosphere of fear and instability among residents.
During the September peace meeting, Babaro appeared sporting a military camouflage jungle hat and brandishing an automatic rifle - a display that now appears more as a show of force than a genuine commitment to peace.
The current N50 million levy demand underscores the continuing security challenges facing Katsina State communities, despite ongoing efforts to negotiate peace with armed groups operating in the region.
