Nasarawa State Police Command has begun enforcing the Executive Order No. 1 of 2024 signed by the State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, banning all ethnic vigilante groups in the state.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Shehu Umar Nadada, disclosed this in a statement issued by the State Police Command’s Spokesperson, DSP Ramhan Nansel.
He ordered all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, Heads of Department/Tactical teams in the Command to carry out full enforcement of the ban.
This directive followed the state government’s decision to ban all ethnic vigilante groups after an emergency security meeting chaired by Governor Abdullahi Sule.
The Command also ordered members of the disbanded groups to hand over all uniforms and accoutrements in their possession to the Area Commanders or Divisional Police officers closest to their areas within two weeks.
The statement read, “Following Executive Order No. 1 of 2024 signed by Governor Abdullahi Sule, which proscribed all ethnic vigilante groups in the state, I convened a meeting with my management team to urge these groups to promptly hand over their weapons and uniforms to the state police command. Failure to do so will result in immediate arrest and prosecution.
“The Commissioner wishes to inform the good people of Nasarawa State, most especially the Kungiyar Zaman Lafia Nomad vigilante, Bassa vigilante, Eggon vigilante and other “similar organizations” which 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 group within Nasarawa State through the use of force or arms that their activities or operations is hereby banned.
“To this end, the Commissioner of Police has ordered all Area Commanders, Divisional Police officers, Heads of Department/Tactical teams in the Command to carry out full enforcement of the Ban.
“He therefore warn all members of the groups to hand over all uniforms and accoutrements in their possession to the Area Commanders or Divisional Police officers closest to their areas within two weeks from the date of this pronouncement; as anyone caught operating or found to be in possession of prohibited firearms will be arrested and made to bear the full wrath of the law.”
