Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna, Niger, Katsina, and the Nasarawa States of Nigeria have agreed to mobilize a collaborative 3,000-man-strong special vigilante to assist in combating banditry and kidnapping, Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has said.
Governor Masari disclosed this while fielding questions from newsmen on the sideline of a Consultative Meeting with the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and traditional rulers, in Katsina on Tuesday, as reported in the VANGUARD.
He said the vigilantes will be trained by the Nigeria Police Force. “I am not speaking for myself, but on behalf of the governors of the above-mentioned states,” Masari also stated.
“In fact, they are supposed to be at this consultative meeting we are holding here in Katsina, but I am speaking on their behalf.
“The issue of banditry in the North West and parts of North Central has transformed to insurgency, therefore, we developed different mechanisms to fight the menace.
“There are over 150 groups of bandits in the forests that owe allegiance to their different leaders.”
“These people don’t have ideology, religion, or sense of direction, they are just like wild animals,” Masari said.
The governor noted that the fight against insecurity, particularly banditry, in the society should be a collective effort and urged the citizenry to support security agencies.
