- * Arrests 100 Kidnappers On One Year
By David Odama (In Lafia, Nasarawa State)
Ahead school resumption, and concerned with the rising insecurity in Nasarawa State, the community volunteer guards, have sought the mandate of the state Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, to secure public schools in the state.
Commandant General of the guards, Sabiu Idris, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Lafia.
According to the Commandant, the Nigerian Vigilante Corps in the state, had transformed to volunteer guards following inability of the government to accord the organization recognition.
He, said the body has the manpower with over 200,000 staff strength to provide security in all the public schools in the state. He added that the organization has within one year arrested over 100 kidnappers and other criminals and handed them over to the law enforcement agency in the state.
It would be recalled that Governor Sule had ordered the closure of all public and private schools in the state, following the attack on Kuje Correctional Center, Abuja, where terrorists and other criminal elements were released from the custody.
The governor had also raised alarm over the influx of terrorists from neighbouring states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) into Nasarawa state where he said, security reports received indicated that bandits fleeing from Niger, Zamfara, Kebbi and Kaduna states, were identified in Rugan Juli and Rugan Madaki, both in Karu Local Government Area, as well as in Wamba and Toto local government areas of the state.
"What we required from the state government are logistics and monthly stipends for officers and men of the command to enable us carry out our functions effectively".
He appealed to the state government to impress it on the local government chairmen to also assist officers and men of the guards in their area through monthly stipends to ease their operations.
He commended Governor Sule for donating a Hilux vehicle for their operation, while urging him to assist in refurbishing their only official vehicle which has been since grounded. NNL.
