By our reporter 15.3.2026
Bandits are now freely collecting “peace tax” from Doma community residents in Katsina State in exchange for peace and protection from attacks.
The tax is paid to a notorious bandit leader, Isyaku Kwasha Garwa. It was recently enforced by the bandits after endless attacks on the community.
According to a community leader, Musa Ali residents reluctantly agreed to pay to avoid attacks and go about their normal business. He said they had to pay up since the government failed to heed to their call for protection from bandits attacks.
“This is one of the humiliations our people are forced to endure just to survive,” Ali told BusinessDay.
“We are paying criminals so they will allow us to live and farm on our own land.”
Security analyst Maigari Garba said the situation in Doma reflects a broader trend across parts of the North-West where armed groups impose so-called peace levies on rural communities.
“For many villagers, these payments have become an unfortunate cost of survival,” he said.
Community leaders warn that the continued imposition of such levies could worsen food insecurity and deepen poverty across already vulnerable rural populations.