Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria — Residents of the Utono community in Ngaski Local Government Area, Kebbi State are reported to be living in fear after a handwritten threat letter allegedly from members of Boko Haram warned of an imminent attack and demanded a cash payment of ₦100 million as “zakat.” The development has been widely covered in Nigerian news outlets as of 19–20 February 2026.
According to reports, the threat letter was written in Hausa, dated 17 February 2026, and addressed to the district head of Utono. It instructed residents not to flee and demanded that the full payment be assembled in cash at the district head’s palace before the group arrives. The letter reportedly stated that even if residents summon security forces, including the Nigerian Army, they would be unable to stop the attackers.
The communique, circulated in the community and shared with journalists, also directed that cattle owners bring livestock home for counting as part of the enforced “zakat” collection. It further urged residents to contact wealthy community members living outside the town to contribute financially toward the ₦100 million demand.
Local sources quoted in reporting describe widespread panic and fear among villagers, with some reportedly fleeing homes and abandoning farms due to concerns about a possible attack. Fear has been heightened by memories of previous terrorist and armed group raids in rural northern communities.
Separate coverage by New Telegraph (although not formally confirmed) noted that state security agencies have been deployed to the area in response to the threat and that authorities are taking precautions to prevent violence.
As of publication, official statements from Kebbi State authorities or national security forces confirming the letter’s authenticity or detailing specific protective measures have been limited or unspecified in widely cited reports.
This incident occurs within a broader context of insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria where armed groups have carried out raids, kidnappings, extortion, and attacks on remote communities over the last decade.
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