Niger Assembly decries the escalation of Bandits attacks in the state Urges Govt. to empower local vigilantees.
Worried by the recent escalation of Banditry attacks on communities across the state with the recent being the sacking of an entire community in Munya local government area of the state, the Niger state House of Assembly, has urged the state government to empower the state vigilante corps to enable them the tackle the criminals.
The Speaker of the state House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkindaji stated this on Saturday when he addressed vigilante 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 vigilante corps with the necessary weapons and logistics had become very important because the security situation in the state seems to have defied every measure put in place address the situation with the recent attacks on communities in the state.
According to him, the state vigilante corps has enough manpower and good knowledge of the environment to confront the Bandits and other terrorists groups but added 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 is obvious that the vigilantes can no longer confront them (Bandits) with mere pump action guns and therefore need something more sophisticated in other to take the battle to the criminal, adding “the state Assembly is ready to support the executives in this direction in our collective efforts to win these war against the Bandits and other terrorists in the state”.
Sarkindaji nonetheless appealed to the vigilante 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 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 vigilante corps and other security agencies in the state in other to achieve the desire results, insisting that the recent escalation of the activities of the gunmen is not only disturbing but very sad as the people, especially at the rural areas can no longer sleep nor embark on their farming activities which is their only means of lively hood.
Earlier the state Commandant of the vigilante corps, Mallm Nasiru Muhammed Manta said the greatest challenges facing the state vigilante corps is lack of necessary equipment and the necessary incentives for his members, saying that 50 percent of the members are not salary or any motivational incentives.
He said the vigilante corps remains committed to the fight against Banditry and other form 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 achieve the desire results”.
