Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal condemned the activities of self-styled vigilante groups in the region following the death of 45 people in several attacks in Illela and Goronyo.
The Sokoto State government has banned “self-styled vigilante groups” on Tuesday as Mr Tambuwal’s spokesperson, Muhammad Bello, released a statement that the prohibition is part of the efforts to keep the activities of the non-state actors responsible for killings in the eastern part of the state in check.
Mr Tambuwal of Sokoto released the statement on Monday while signing the Yan Sa Kai (Self-Styled Vigilantes) Prohibition Order 2021 into force at the Sultan Maccido Institute for Qur’anic and General Studies during a stakeholders security meeting.
The order stipulates that any contravention shall be “punished in accordance with the provisions of the Penal Code Law 2019” and any convicted offender shall be liable to a fine of N500,000.00 or imprisonment for a term of 14 years or to both.
“We have noticed that this practice is creeping into Sokoto state and is causing a lot of harm,” said the governor prior to signing the law. “We believe that we have to be very proactive in training, re-training and empowering the vigilante; and, making sure that they work hand-in-hand with the established security agencies as recognized by law.”
“It is only that way that we can have the full benefit of their knowledge of the terrain and experiences in helping to curb and nip in the bud the current security challenges in the state,” Mr Tambuwal explained.
