As El-Rufai bans civilian JTF…

Following the recent launch of Kaduna State Vigilance Service, Kaduna state government, using the law that established the body, banned the Civilian Joint Task Force, neighbourhood security outfits and other local vigilante in the state. ABDULRAHEEM AODU wonders if the ban will not open the door for criminals and hoodlums to perpetrate crimes in the state as their safe haven
Kaduna state bedevilled by insecurity Kaduna state has been bedeviled by insecurity of different hues and colours for decades, apart from the various sectarian crises, there has been pockets of criminal vices ranging across the state.
These criminalities include armed robbery, cattle rustling, kidnapping, gang warfare and sundry acts that put the lives and properties of residents of the state in jeopardy. Th us, there is need to beef up security across the state to further protect the people from the criminals.
This informs the establishment of various security outfi ts in the state by youths, hunters, neighbours and other stakeholders in the name of Kato da Gora, Civilian JTF, CESSCUR, Neighbourhood Watch, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Extreme Security, Jarumai da Gora, Yan Committee, Ujumeme, Yan Tuba among others. The activities of these security outfi ts have in no small measure militate against crimes and vices in the state, with the Civilian JTF in particular keeping at bay armed robbers and gangsters in Kakuri and Makers areas in Kaduna South local government area of the state.
These armed robbers, whose stock in trade include but was not limited to striping the moribund textile industries in Kakuri of its assets, machine parts and other valuables, met their Waterloo in the Civilian JTF who forcefully banished them from the area, with some of them said to have relocated as far as Abuja following clashes that led to the death of some of their leaders leaving them rudderless.
The activities of Civilian JTF in Birnin Gwari and Dogon Dawa in Birnin Gwari local government area of the state kept activities of cattle rustlers and armed robbers in the area in check until when their leader was killed in 2012 by bandits who reside in the forests around the area. But after the setback, they have regrouped again and are helping government security agencies in ensuring security of lives and properties in the area.
These community, youth and neighbourhood security outfi ts have however been hamstrung and banned by the Kaduna state government following the establishment and recent offi cial launch of the Kaduna State Vigilance Service.
El-Rufai launches Kaduna vigilance service, bans CJTF Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state has banned Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) and other private vigilance bodies operating in the state, while ordering the arrest of any such group or members of such local security outfi t, following the establishment of Kaduna State Vigilance Service. Speaking at the official launch of the Kaduna State Vigilance Service recently at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna, Governor el-Rufai said that with the establishment of the new vigilance service, the law establishing the Service has no use for other local security outfits.
The Governor, who was represented at the event by his Deputy, Arch. Barnabas Bala Bantex, said that, “this agency represents another step government is taking to enhance security in our state, to give our people greater confidence as they work hard to take care of themselves and their families.
Need for state vigilance service “The Vigilance Service has been established to help improve security in our neighbourhoods, putting more on the ground to deter and respond to threats. “In establishing a Vigilance Service, Kaduna state is once again making a concrete investment in securing its people.
The Vigilance Service will complement the existing security and law enforcement agencies which are all federal assets. “The Kaduna state government has consistently supported these agencies, from providing vehicles, and other assistance, to actually funding operations undertaken by these federal assets. Security big challenge, Nigeria under policed Feature “Judging from the wide coverage, security is one of the big challenges of our time.
Yet any familiarity with the issue, beyond the headlines that tell painful stories of loss, injury and sometimes displacement, is the cold fact that our police is undermanned.
“As a consequence, our country is so severely underpoliced that the gaps are too easily exploited by criminals. While waiting for critical policy changes like funding a mass recruitment of police officers and decentralizing the police, we must take steps within the law to strengthen security in our state, coupled with supporting the work of the federal police. “Therefore, in 2016 the Kaduna state government established the Vigilance Service by law.
The purpose of the Kaduna State Vigilance Service is to complement the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies operating in the state in the detection and prevention of crimes in our neighbourhoods and communities. “Officers of the Kaduna State Vigilance Service will work closely with the Nigeria Police, the Civil Defence, the State Security Service and the military, particularly in areas of intelligence sharing.
“This government is committed to stopping the hoodlums and miscreants that menace our urban centres, and the bandits that threaten peace and harmony in our rural communities. The security agencies have effected mass arrests of these urban hoodlums, and we hope that the judicial process metes out appropriate punishment to them.”
Local security outfits subsumed into new vigilance service According to Governor el-Rufai, previous local security outfits are banned and should not be seen involved in any security activity across the state or such group or members of such group would be arrested and prosecuted. However, members of such defunct local security outfit can join the newly formed Kaduna State Vigilance Service if they still intend to help in securing the state and it’s people.
The Governor said, “this government will not allow any illegal group to use the provision of security as cover to perpetrate mayhem. May I warn that this Service is established by law as the only state government owned and recognized security body. We call for the utmost public cooperation with its officers.
“The law has no space for Vigilante bodies like the Kato da Gora, Civilian JTF, CESSCUR, Neighbourhood Watch, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Extreme Security, Jarumai da Gora, Yan Committee, Ujumeme, Yan Tuba and others. “Government has advised the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to arrest and prosecute any person operating under any of these bodies. People who used to belong to these bodies are hereby called upon to join hands with the Kaduna Vigilance Service forthwith,” the Governor added.
Why private local vigilance bodies were banned The Chairman of the Kaduna State Vigilance Service, Col. Daniel K. Anto (retd) in his welcome address noted that “some members of the banned local vigilance group consist of ex-convicts, miscreants and hoodlums, and as a result, they might be susceptible for easy deployment for violent or other criminal vices.
“They extort money and other valuable items from unsuspecting members of the public. They are also largely responsible for night rights abuses and jungle justice,” Anto said.
He called on any association which has been operating prior to the establishment of Kaduna State Vigilance Service, or responsible to have been performing similar functions to the service to quit within 30 days of the law which instituted the service. “I therefore call on these selfhelp groups to immediately and voluntarily subsume themselves to the service or be deemed to be in deliberate contravention of this provision and accordingly be dealt with as appropriate,” he urged. Commandant of the State Vigilante Service, and former member of Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Muhammad Ali, in his address at the occasion described the initiative by the state as timely and appropriate. According to Ali, “the Vigilance Service is taking off when Nigeria is becoming a playground of carnage, insurgency, gang violence and acts of potential rascality.
The Kaduna State Vigilance Service pledged to tackle head-on until normalcy is restored in our community, “he pledged. While it is not clear how members of the defunct private security outfits would function under the new vigilance service considering that it already has a leadership structure, it remains to be seen how the new government security outfit would address the spate of crimes in Southern Kaduna, Birnin Gwari and Kaduna metropolis.