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Retired Generals Drop Bombshell: Military Powerless Against Bandit Taxation
Retired Generals Drop Bombshell: Military Powerless Against Bandit TaxationSome retired military generals have acknowledged that despite ongoing counterterrorism operations, the Nigerian military is unable to prevent residents in conflict-ridden areas from paying levies and ransoms to bandits.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Ireporter, the former military officers expressed doubts over the military’s capacity to curb these forced payments, citing widespread fear and insecurity in rural communities.
Since banditry transformed into an organized crime network in northern Nigeria—characterized by mass abductions, violent raids, and extortion—many farming communities have been forced to pay ransoms, levies, and protection fees to secure their safety.
These imposed levies range between ₦20 million and ₦200 million, with notorious bandit kingpins threatening to attack villages and farmlands if payments are not made.
Communities Struggling to Raise Ransoms
- July 2024 – Residents of Toro community, Benue State, were forced to sell their farm produce to raise ₦20 million demanded by bandits. Each resident reportedly contributed ₦50,000 to prevent attacks.
- September 2024 – In Moriki town, Zamfara State, locals struggled to raise ₦30 million demanded by infamous bandit leader Bello Turji.
- January 2025 – Another feared bandit leader, Dantsito, issued a ₦200 million levy demand, threatening to invade Tsafe LGA, Zamfara State if unpaid.
- Last week – A Sokoto State lawmaker, Aminu Boza, revealed that Turji had imposed a ₦25 million levy on Sabon Birni villages.
According to the Gobir Development Association, residents across affected regions have paid over ₦160 billion in ransoms and levies to bandits.
Despite the rise in bandit-imposed levies, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has repeatedly urged residents in northern Nigeria not to succumb to financial extortion.
Speaking with Punch, former Commandant of Army Signals and ex-Chief of Defence Training and Planning, Gen. Ishola Williams (retd.), pointed out that public distrust in the military has led communities to comply with bandits’ demands.
“People don’t trust the military anymore. If residents knew the military would act against those extorting them, they wouldn’t waste their money. It’s a matter of trust.”
He also suggested that some members within affected communities may be benefiting from the levies and ransoms, making it difficult to eradicate the practice.
Similarly, Brig. Gen. John Sura (retd.), a former Commander of 1 Division, Nigerian Army, noted that residents in remote areas struggle to heed the military’s advice due to the lack of consistent security presence.
“If someone stronger than you threatens to kill you unless you pay, you have no choice but to comply,” he said.
Sura further emphasized that military forces are mainly stationed at LGA headquarters or major road junctions, leaving villages—some located 5 to 10 kilometers away—without immediate protection.
“This is why many communities resort to self-defense groups, like the Forest Guard in Benue State. Some Bauchi communities inflicted heavy losses on bandits, forcing them to flee.”
Another retired general, speaking anonymously, blamed the military’s limited manpower for its inability to provide adequate security across all affected regions.
“The military can make announcements telling residents not to fear bandits, but the reality is different. The bandits are right there in their communities, armed and in control.”
He further noted that while military operations are conducted in these areas, soldiers do not remain stationed—unlike the bandits who never leave.
“Security agencies can’t be everywhere. In Sokoto, where residents pay bandit levies, the military isn’t present permanently. They come for operations and then leave, but the bandits stay.”
“If criminals are the ones constantly around, who do you think the people will obey? The government forces that come and go, or the armed bandits that live among them?”
With banditry continuing to spread and communities struggling under the weight of extortion, many are calling for urgent government intervention to restore security, trust, and stability in affected regions.
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“Keep Quiet!” – Presidency Launches Blistering Attack On Peter Obi Over State Police Remarks!.
The Presidency has voiced its frustration regarding recent statements made by Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra State, concerning the Tinubu administration’s initiative to implement a state police system.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
While Obi acknowledged the National Assembly’s passage of the State Police Bill as a positive development, he raised significant concerns regarding the legislative process, which he characterized as disorderly and lacking in necessary consultation. In a statement titled “State Police: Commendable Step, but Disorderly Legislation Raises Concerns of Political Misuse,” Obi argued that the haste of the legislation has triggered suspicions of political motives. The 2027 presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) emphasized that the primary apprehension regarding state police is not logistics, but rather the potential for governors to manipulate these forces for political purposes.
In a prompt response, Dada Olusegun, Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Social Media, criticized Obi’s position as “tragic”. Olusegun took to to express his disapproval, suggesting that it would have been preferable for the former presidential candidate to remain silent on the matter.
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Renewed Hope In Health! President Tinubu Unveils Massive Digital Overhaul With New Appointment!.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has authorized the creation of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office (NHTDAO) and appointed Dr. Obi Adigwe as its inaugural National Coordinator. This announcement was made on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The new agency will be housed within the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare to serve as a national hub for coordinating the country’s digital health initiatives. Key functions of the office include:
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Harmonizing and empowering both public and private health institutions across the system.
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Establishing standards to connect these institutions.
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Operationalizing the National Digital Health Architecture, which the National Council on Health approved in November 2025.
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Reinforcing, rather than replacing, the existing statutory functions of relevant agencies and departments.
Dr. Adigwe, who previously served as the Director General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, brings significant experience in utilizing science to drive advancements in technology transfer, artificial intelligence, and translational research. His notable achievements include coordinating a ¥300 million nanotechnology grant, leading a roadmap that secured an €18 million EU grant, and directing a project for Africa’s first API Training Facility. Additionally, he gained international recognition during the pandemic for conducting the world’s first analysis to challenge claims regarding the Covid Organics preparation.
The NHTDAO will be guided by a Steering Committee, which includes:
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Co-chairs: Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, and Mr. Olaniyi Yusuf, Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group.
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Alternate Co-chair: Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare.
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Other Members: Ms. Kachollom Daju, Mr. Idris Alubankudi Saliu, Dr. Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq, Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, Dr. Muyi Aina, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, the Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, a representative from the National Information Technology Development Agency, one representative from each of the six geopolitical zones for State Commissioners of Health, and industry stakeholder Pharm Hamza Buhari.
President Tinubu anticipates that the NHTDAO will hasten Nigeria’s shift toward a secure, data-driven, and interoperable health system, ultimately enhancing health outcomes for all citizens in accordance with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Ajimobi family is mourning the loss of Alhaji Teslim Ajimobi, the 67-year-old younger brother of the late former Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi. According to BBC, Teslim Ajimobi passed away in London on Thursday, marking six years since his elder brother’s death in 2020. This loss follows a period of several recent family tragedies, including the death of one of the former governor’s daughters. As of the time of reporting, there has been no official statement from the family, and the cause of death remains undisclosed.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Teslim Ajimobi’s life was defined by the following:
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Political Involvement: In 2017, he served as the Caretaker Chairman of the Ibadan South-East Local Government Area in Oyo State, where he was engaged in community affairs and grassroots administration.
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Business Career: He was an active businessman with interests both in Nigeria and internationally, holding leadership roles in several private companies, such as the London-based Teslis Global Services Ltd.
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Public Legacy: Associates, friends, and family members are reportedly saddened by his passing, remembering him for his engagement in business and public life, as well as his rapport with others.
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