The Niger state House of Assembly has promulgated a law empowering Vigilantes in the state to carry arms as a strategy to surmount banditry and other security challenges.
The passage of the law Wednesday followed the adoption of recommendations by the House Committee on Security, Intelligence and Judiciary on ammendment of the state Vigilante Corps law 2012.
The Committee chaired by Honourable Jibrin Ndagi Baba and Co-Chaired by Honourable Bello Ahmad also recommended the use of the squad to police rural communities against the activities of bandits and kidnappers.
According to the committee’s recommendations “That it is a better platform to be used to police rural communities against the activities of bandits and kidnappers. That arming the Vigilante would add value to their performance within the security architecture of the state.”
The Assembly also adopted the committee’s recommendation for the establishment of local government structures of the Vigilante Corps, adding that, “that Special Adviser to me Governor on Security ought to a member of the Advisory Committee.”
The Speaker of the Assembly Barrister Bawa Wuse in passing the amended bill directed the Clerk to make available clean copies to the Governor of the state, Abubakar Sani Bello.
