Residents of Maradun, the hometown of Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, are gripped by fear following a chilling threat issued by a notorious bandit leader known as Jummo.

According to reports from the community in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Jumbo has issued a demand for a ransom-like payment of ₦20 million.

If the money isn’t paid, he has threatened to launch a violent assault on the town.

In an audio message sent to locals, Jummo insisted that his men be allowed free access to local markets and permitted to move their cattle freely across the area without harassment.

This, he claimed, would be the only way residents could continue to access their farmlands safely.

“There is nothing stopping us from attacking Maradun,” he warned.

“Let me tell the people of this town, I can mobilize support from over 100 other bandit leaders and together, we can take over Maradun anytime we want.”

He further declared that unless the ₦20m “protection fee” is paid, locals should forget about farming activities, saying his gang would block access to farmlands.

“Our boys will begin to patrol the area. Farmers will be sent back home. No one will be allowed to cultivate their land unless the money is paid,” he added.

The threat has sparked outrage and defiance among residents.

Many have rejected the idea of raising money to pay criminals.

“No one is going to entertain the idea of paying money to this terrorist,” said a local farmer, who spoke on the phone with our manhaja.blueprint, a local newspaper .

“We are not going to negotiate with bandits.”

He called on both the Zamfara State government and the Federal Government to take swift and decisive action by dislodging the armed groups hiding in the Bayan Ruwa area, which he said has become a safe haven for terrorists.