Terrorists issued a six-day ultimatum to villages in Kankia Local Government Area of Katsina State and demanded 700 cattle and 1,000 sheep or they will attack.
The letter reached the communities on Thursday and set a deadline that ends next Wednesday.
Residents of Sukuntuni and nearby areas fled their homes straight away.
A local who asked not to be named described how the terrorists acted.
He said a leader called Muhammadu fell out with his partners, brought around 200 motorcycles and moved about 1,700 animals into Rimaye town.
Two days later the same man sent the letter to Sukuntuni and called the demand a tax that the communities must pay by force.
The threat spread quickly. Families left Sukuntuni, Unguwar Tsamiya, Magama, Walawa and Tudun Wulli.
About ten villages now stand empty.
Some people went to Rimaye while others headed for parts of Kano State or Katsina town itself.
The same resident recalled earlier violence in the area.
Terrorists once attacked Sayaya, burned a hospital, killed a policeman and several locals and destroyed vehicles.
Meanwhile the chairman of the Civil Society Organisations in Katsina State, Abdurrahman Abdullahi, pointed to the root of the problem.
He said the government has failed to tackle insecurity and that talks between communities and the terrorists once brought short periods of calm but no longer work.
However the Director General of Media to the Katsina State Governor, Maiwada Dammalla, said officials are looking into the letter.
He added that it may simply aim to spread fear and that the government continues to work to protect lives and property.
Many of those who left their homes still do not know when they can return.
