Gov. Sule moves to disengage local vigilante groups in Nasarawa to address security challenges

The Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule has hinted at disengaging the local vigilante groups in the state.

The governor made this known at an emergency expanded security council meeting in Lafia, the state capital on Monday.

According to the governor, the meeting is to address security challenges facing the state, especially the recent records of kidnappings in some local government areas.

He expressed concern over the escalation of some security challenges especially kidnappings, as well as activities of ethnic militia groups.

“The purpose of the meeting has to do with the security situation that we have seen, especially during my absence, when certain issues were escalated. It’s indeed a point of worry that we continue to see an increase in the number of kidnappings especially in Keffi, Doma, Lafia, Awe, Obi, Keana, Karu and Nasarawa Local Government Areas of the state.

“We have also seen an increase in the activities of the Bassa militia terrorizing innocent people, especially in areas surrounding Shegye, Katakpa, and some other villages in Toto Local Government Area.

“We have on the other hand seen some increase in the dispute especially between communities similar to the one we have seen in Udege area where a person was killed as a result of misunderstanding within the same ethnic group,” he stated.

Governor 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 to call for the emergency security council meeting.

He pointed out that mostly as a result of the activities of the Bassa militia group, which has previously been operating under the ambit of the Bassa Vigilante Group, his administration is considering banning all single ethnic group vigilante groups operating in the state, including the Fulani Vigilante Group that has existed in the state since 2009.

“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 ethnic group establishing a vigilante will be banned,” he said.