By James Danjuma, Katsina
Katsina state Government has banned the operations of volunteer security groups, locally known as “Yansakai”, across the state.
The ban followed allegations of extra- judicial killings as well as looting of properties of innocent citizens by the said security group.
The group is the coming together of residents who are mostly youths, that live in communities where security challenges are predominant.
They organise and armed themselves with the aim to protect their communities from attacks by bandits, kidnappers and ruslters.
Their activities, however, was said to have taken a negative turn as they were said to have begun killing of citizens based on suspicion of being bandits or terrorists.
This led to the banning of the group, with state government only recognizing vigilante groups under supervision of police and other security agencies.
The ban was announced in a statement by the special adviser to the state governor on security matters, Ibrahim Ahmed Katsina.
The statement reads thus, “The Katsina state government has banned the activities of Yansakai volunteer group across the state with immediate effect.
“Considering their overzealous criminals activities, leading to extrajudicial killings if innocent persons and looting their property, under the guise if Yansakai operations, police and security agencies have been by this directive been mandated to enforce the dismantling of all Yansakai activities across the state, henceforth.
“The state government only recognises the activities of vigilante groups which is under the supervision, control and monitoring of the police, other security agencies and traditional institutions.
“Henceforth, nobody should take the law into his hands, under whatever guise. Arrested suspects should be handed over to the police or any security agency for proper investigative action where need be.”
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Following the directive, the police command in the state also issued a related directive, instructing its area commanders and DPOs to go after recalcitrant Yansakai offenders and their sponsors.
The statement which was issued by the spokesperson by the police command, SP Gambo Isah, reads, “Following the directives of the Katsina state government on the banning of outlawed Yansakai group in the state, the Katsina State Police Command have issued directives to all its Area Commanders and DPOs to go after the recalcitrant offenders and their sponsors wherever they are in the state.
“Members of the public are enjoined to disassociate themselves with the group, cooperate with security agencies and report any Dansakai or Yansakai within their domains.
“The command will not fold its arms while some disgruntled members of the public take laws into their hands, brazenly killing innocent citizens, destroying and looting public property without recourse to the rule of law.
“The Nigeria Police Force and indeed other sister Security agencies will deal decisively with any person or group persons found parading themselves as Yansakai or any other like name in the state.
“Government and security agencies recognize the efforts and contribution of the State Vigilante Group which is under the supervision of the Police and the Traditional leaders.
“Members of the public are hereby enjoined to always cooperate with security agencies by providing them with useful information that may assist them in the ongoing onslaught against recalcitrant terrorists- bandits.”
