Follow Us on Google
From John Adams Minna
Worried by the recent escalation of bandit attacks on communities across Niger State, with the recent being the sacking of an entire community in Munya Local Government Area of the state, the state House of Assembly has urged the government to empower the state vigilance corps, to enable them tackle the criminals.
The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, stated this on Saturday, when he addressed vigilance Commanders, Secretaries and Operations from the 25 local government areas of the state during their quarterly review meeting in Minna, the state capital.
The Speaker pointed out that the need to empower the vigilance corps with the necessary weapons and logistics had become very important because the security situation in the state seemed to have defied every measure put in place to address it, with the recent attacks on communities in the state.
He said the state vigilance corps has enough manpower and good knowledge of the environment to confront the bandits and other terrorist groups, adding that “what the vigilantes need is equipment and the necessary weapons to tackle these criminals”.
He said going by the caliber of weapons available to the bandits, it was obvious that the vigilantes could no longer confront them (bandits) with mere pump action guns and, therefore, needed something more sophisticated, in order to take the battle to the criminals.
“The state assembly is ready to support the executives in this direction, in our collective efforts to win the war against bandits and other terrorists in the state.”
Sarkindaji, nonetheless, appealed to the vigilance corps to continue the sacrifice they have been making for the peace of the state, despite the operational challenges facing them, stressing that “your sacrifice is for the peace of the state. If there is no peace in the state, your families and relations will not also have peace. The peace of the state is very important because it is for all of us.
“The state assembly will prevail on the government to ensure that you are not only well equipped with the necessary operational materials to take the battle to the bandits, but, also, provide some incentives to enhance your welfare and that of your families,” he added.
The Speaker equally called for synergy between the vigilance corps and other security agencies in the state, in order to achieve the desire results, insisting that the recent escalation of the activities of the gunmen were not only disturbing, but very sad as the people, especially at the rural areas, could no longer sleep nor embark on their farming activities, which is their only means of livelihood.
Earlier, the state Commandant of the vigilance corps, Mallm Nasiru Muhammed Manta, said the greatest challenges facing the state vigilance corps was lack of necessary equipment and the necessary incentives for his members, adding that 50 percent of the members were not on salary or any motivational incentives.
He said the vigilance corps remains committed to the fight against banditry and other forms of terrorism in the state and, therefore, appealed to the state government to provide them with the necessary equipment, to enable them confront the criminals, adding, “we have what it takes to flush out the bandits, but we need government support to enable us achieve the desired results.”
