Banditry: Katsina Govt Bans Rogue Vigilante Group Over Killing, Looting

By James Orji

Katsina State, on Monday, banned Yan sa Kai, a volunteer vigilante group established to assist security agencies in the fight against banditry and criminality in the state.

The state government had set up Yan sa Kai AND other vigilante groups in 2019 against the backdrop of sharp increase in bandit attacks on many communities .The vigilantes are stationed at the exit and entry points of target towns while others patrol areas such as market places, especially in the evening and at night.

But according to a statement released by the state government, the group has become rogue and law unto itself.

For instance, the government accused the volunteers of involvement in extra judicial killings, as well as engagement in criminal activities by some of its members.

The state charged police and other security agencies in the state to henceforth arrest members of the group and prosecute them.

The Special Adviser on Security, Ibrahim Katsina to the governor of the state Bello Masari, in the statement made available to newsmen in Katsina, the state’s capital said some members of the volunteer group have also been looting peoples properties.

The statement, which was titled “Banning of the activities of Yan sa Kai volunteer group across Katsina State,” read, “The Katsina State Government has banned the activities of Yan Sa Kai due to the overzealous criminal activities of the volunteer (Yan Sa Kai) group in the state, which always resulted in extrajudicial killings of innocent persons and looting of their property.

“In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, the Katsina State Government has banned their activities across the state with immediate effect.

“The statement further said the Katsina State Government only recognised the activities of vigilante group which is under the supervision, control and monitoring of the police, other security agencies and traditional institutions.

“Henceforth, arrested suspects should be handed over to the police or any security agency for proper investigation and action where necessary. Nobody should take the law into his hands under whatever guise.

Meanwhile, the magazine learnt that the residents of the state, particularly those that have become victims of their criminal activities are relieved as a result of the decision of the government to ban the rogue group. But others are also saying that what the Governor Masari-led administration ought to do, is to identify the criminally minded members of the group and prosecute them for the actions.

What the government has done those that hold this opinion, said is that the government has thrown away the bay and the bad water because “not all the members of the group are involved in criminality. Katsina is one of the epicentre of banditry in the country, and so far the vigilante group has assisted other security agencies in the state in combating the menace. But like other groups in the society, they are bound to be infiltrated by criminals whose aim is to achieve their own end.

“What the government should do is to expose them and allow other patriotic ones to continue with their job,” a resident who simply identify himself as Mohammed told the magazine on Tuesday.