By Hamidu Sabo
Katsina
Katsina state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Hurdi, has warned members of vigilance groups in the state to stop killing innocent Fulani herdsmen under the guise of fighting cattle rustling.
At a meeting with officials of vigilance groups from 34 local government areas on Wednesday, Hurdi said such killing could worsen the insecurity and created enmity among people, especially in the rural areas.
He cited example of recent happening at Kankara and Mararaba Gora where innocent people were killed and their property destroyed for fight against cattle rustlers.
Hurdi said many of the Fulani herdsmen killed had lived in their villages for over 100 years, but were attacked by some members of vigilance groups.
He said in an attempt to retaliate, Fulani herdsmen also killed innocent people, warning that such cases must be stopped and that members of vigilance groups must operate in accordance with the laws of the land.
Hurdi emphasised that official of the group must ensure their members carried out patrols with caution and ensure that bad eggs among them were fished out.
The commissioner told them that the command had resolved to bring sanity to the operation of vigilance groups in the state, adding that it would “soon commence the registration of all members of the group.”
He said, henceforth, all Dane guns owned by members of the group must be registered by the local government council to stop alleged misuse of the guns to terrorise innocent people.
During the meeting which was attended by Director of State Security Service and commandant of the 82 battalion of the Nigerian Army in Katsina, the issue affecting operations of vigilance groups was raised by members of the group who solicited assistance from other security operatives to carry out their duties.