Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia
Worried by the increasing spate of kidnappings in Nasarawa State, the state Governor, Abdullahi Sule, yesterday said his administration was considering banning all ethnic vigilante groups operating in the state.
The governor stated this at an emergency security council meeting he convened in the Government House, Lafia, with a view to tackling emerging security threats in the state.
Sule disclosed that having met with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu in Lagos, as well as some security chiefs in Abuja, where security matters were discussed, it also became necessary for him to call for the emergency security council meeting.
He pointed out that mostly as a result of activities of the Bassa militia group, which has previously been operating under the ambit of the Bassa Vigilante, his administration was considering banning all single ethnic group vigilance groups operating in the state.
The governor insisted that the ban would include the Fulani Vigilance Group that has existed in the state since 2009.
According to him, “One of the discussions that we are going to have today is to consider the banning of any single ethnic group vigilante that is operating in the state. Any particular ethic group establishing a vigilante will be banned.”
The governor added that his administration would give members of such ethnic vigilante groups a grace period within which to join already existing community vigilante group.
“By the time we take the decision about banning single ethnic group vigilante, especially the Bassa vigilance group, then we will work towards ensuring peace in the state.
“We will give them a period of roughly one to two weeks to return their uniforms to us so that we can ensure they are disbanded. We will also ensure they are willing to abide by the system in the state and the policies of government,” he added.
