Sokoto state government bans operation of vigilante groups

Sokoto state government on Tuesday has banned the activities of vigilante groups to curb increasing banditry and crimes plaguing parts of the state.

Governor Aminu Tambuwal gave the directive while signing into law the ‘Yan Sa Kai (Prohibition) Order 2021’ at a stakeholders’ security meeting held at the Sultan Maccido Institute for Qur’anic and General Studies, Sokoto,

The order, while outlawing the organisation, operation and activities of the ‘Yan Sa Kai’, stated, “Any contravention shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of the Penal Code Law, 2019.

“Consequently, any convicted offender under Section 4 (A, B, C and D) shall be guilty and liable on conviction to a fine of N500,000.00 or imprisonment for a term of 14 years, or to both such fine and imprisonment.

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“Section 5 also provides that, any person, who while in public, has with him offensive weapons or missiles, otherwise than in pursuance of lawful authority, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of N200,000.00 or imprisonment for a term of seven years, or to both such fine and imprisonment.”

Citizens who are passionate about fighting crimes have however been encouraged by the sokoto state government to contribute their quota by joining legitimately constituted vigilante groups that will henceforth operate under the supervision and direction of the state police command and other security outfits in the state.