The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Socio-cultural Association has inaugurated a 1,144 nomad volunteer vigilante team to fight banditry, cattle rustling and all forms of insecurity in the state.
Speaking at the inauguration Wednesday in Lafia, national president of the association, Abdullahi Bodejo, said the volunteer vigilante members carefully selected, screened and profiled, would operate within the ambit of the existing laws of the country.
He said the primary objectives of the Nomad Vigilante Group was to encourage peace in rural communities, help secure the livelihoods of farmers and herders, aid in information gathering and intelligence to the Nigerian security agencies of criminals and criminalities within the local communities amongst others.
“To all Nomad Vigilantes, this is a clarion call to unity in purpose. Let us forge alliances with relevant security agencies to fish out criminal elements among communities and reduce the allegation on those who are treated unjustly for crimes not committed as a result of the bad eggs.
“Together, we shall foster dialogue, build bridges within our communities, and usher in an era of lasting peace and harmony,” Bodejo said.
He urged the volunteer vigilantes to collaborate with the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies while carrying out their activities across the 13 local government areas of the state.
Bodejo expanded that the narrative in the country that all Fulani herdsmen were criminally minded was not true.
He, however, urged his kinsmen to always live in peace and harmony among other Nigerians to avoid been arrested by the security agencies.
The Fulani leader added that any of them who willingly troubles other citizens of the country and gets arrested by the security agencies, will not be rescued by the association.
