In a move to push back the rampaging kidnappers and bandits operating freely across the country, 15 state governors have assembled no fewer than 52, 106-man vigilante squads to battle the hoodlums.
Officials in Delta, Kano, Plateau, Sokoto, and 11 other states told The PUNCH that their governors had cobbled together a coalition of vigilantes, hunters, and neighbourhood watch groups to complement the police and other security forces.
Scores of Nigerians have been abducted across the country in the past weeks, with the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Lagos, and some other states coming under the abductors’ siege.
Though the authorities deployed troops and police operatives, this did not alleviate the security challenge.
In response to the troubling situation, the Delta State Government said it had established 2,400 vigilante groups in the 11 local government areas of the state.
The state’s Director-General on Security Matters, Mr David Tonwe, stated this in an interview with The PUNCH in Asaba on Wednesday.
He said, “Yes, we have about 2,400 vigilante groups in 11 local government areas of the state, including hunters. And they are working well. We are still making efforts to cover the whole 25 local governments.’’
2,500 security personnel
To assure Kano residents distressed by the abduction epidemic, the Kano State Government recently launched a training programme for 2,500 security personnel at the Sani Abacha Stadium.
The training was conducted last month at the state’s Corporate Security Training Institute in Gabasawa town, the headquarters of Gabasawa Local Government Area.
The initiative aims to boost youth job opportunities and strengthen the state’s security architecture.
Other are Sokoto state trained no fewer than 2,000 personels
Anambra state which has 7,000 to above
Bayelsa also has 607 vigilantes
Ogun State, has over 16,500 members of the Vigilante Service of Nigeria and are working with the security forces to protect the citizens.
Osun Amotekun Corps Commander, Brig. Gen. Bashir Adewinbi (retd.), told newsmen that the organisation had 354 personnel, adding that Governor Ademola Adeleke had approved the recruitment of an additional 650 men.
The strength of the Benue State security outfits could not be confirmed as state officials declined to speak, but it was estimated to be about 3,000 personnel.
Gombe, the inauguration of a special security task force, ‘Operation Hattara,’ has reportedly boosted security in the state with the recruitment of 2,000 youths.
To battle criminality, no fewer than 3,000 men and women of the Ebonyi State Neighbourhood Watch Security Outfit had been posted to the different parts of the state.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has ordered the re-accreditation of all operatives of the state’s Security Vigilante Network, numbering over 6,500.
To better protect his citizens from the bandits’ assault, the katsina state Governor has enrolled 2,400 youths in its Community Watch Corps.
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State launched the 2,645 members of the State Community Protection Guards set up by his administration on Wednesday to tackle the insecurity challenges affecting the state.
