The Nasarawa State Government has banned all ethnic vigilante groups operating in the state, following increased rate of insecurity.
The ban was announced through a statement obtained by CHANNELS TV on Tuesday, stating that the state government has directed ethnic vigilante groups affected by the order to surrender their uniforms and weapons to the state commissioner of police within two weeks.
This followed an emergency security meeting convened by the Governor, Abdullahi Sule on Monday, Citing the powers vested in him via Section 97A of the Penal Code, as well as other relevant laws.
Governor Sule explained that his decisions were guided by the counsel of the state security council, leading to the prohibition of the Fulani ethnic vigilante group, Kungiyar Zaman Lafiya, the Bassa vigilante group, and the Eggon vigilante group.
The statement read, “Similar Organisations includes any association, movement or group of persons or society in whatever name called or form, with the aim and objectives of providing security amongst particular ethnic groups within Nasarawa State through the use of force or arms etc,” part of the Executive Order No. 1 of 2024 reads.
“Accordingly, the Kungiyar Zaman Lafiya nomad vigilante, Bassa vigilante, Eggon vigilante and other similar organisations are henceforth proscribed, and declared unlawful societies that are inimical to good governance in the state”.
The State Government further directed, all the mentioned organizations to hand over all weapons or arms in their possession, along with uniforms to the commissioner of police Nasarawa State, within two weeks.
