From Paul Orude Bauchi
Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed has said his administration will establish a vigilante force to tackle bandits who have been kidnaping and killing residents.
Mohammed said that his administration was investigating reports that some members of the security and traditional institutions were collaborating with bandits to carry out kidnappings for ransom.
He disclosed this on Saturday at Mansur, when he paid sympathy visits to communities in Gwana district in Alkaleri Local Government Area which have been under attacks of bandits who kidnapped and killed residents.
The Governor, who was in company with the Commissioner of Police, other top security Chiefs in the state, and Government functionaries, also visited Garin Sambo where bandits killed one and injured three persons in a failed kidnapped attempt.
He decried the bloodletting by bandits and insurgents, assuring that the proposed vigilante would work closely with security agencies to neutralise them and fish out their collaborators within.
He promised that his administration would deal decisively with any member of the public who collaborate with bandits no matter how highly placed.
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“We are going to form a strong vigilante [unit] arising from what we have signed as a government and we are going to employ some of our youths to carry their destiny upon their hands,” he said
“Very soon we are going to commence this process and we are going to do it and nobody will come and do it for us.
“We have to complement the Federal Government. They are doing their best and as a governor I have to commend the president. Without the police, the army, l am powerless as a governor. I will always partner with them. We thank the Federal Government”
He said his administration was investigating reports that some members of the traditional institutions in informants to bandits.
“From now you should know we are watching you and certainly the security agencies will do their jobs,$ he said
“We have intelligence from the security agencies of some collaborators from the towns and villages, from the traditional institutions, and even from the security agencies.
“l have received report from the people of the area that they want some security personnel to be transferred. And I think they we not going to disagree with that
“We cannot surrender our sovereignty to insurgents. We must go to the farm we must go to school, and we must go to our market
“We are here on behalf of the Government and people of Bauchi State to pay our condolences over the monumental losses that we have experienced here. Many people have been killed by insurgents and we have come to identify with them
“We are fulfilling our responsibility as Government and the security agencies are supporting us, and the local government is doing its best and the communities though is far from the local government. I happen to come from this community and my mind is always here. I feel really sad for what is happening and we have taken a lot of initiative through the vigilante system, through the structure system.
“We are taking measures that is why we are here to sympathise with you and to tell you that we are doing something.”