Bukola Afeni
CISLAC in collaboration with other Civil Society organisations and Media Defence and Security Steering Committee, has recommended the formulation of legal backing to support the existence of Vigilante Groups and Hunters Union for sustainable operational activities and efficient service delivery in Adamawa state.
They disclosed this at a program organized by CISLAC with support from Transparency International- Defence and Security Program(TI-DSP) United Kingdom.
The group is seeking for enhanced synergy and coordination among security agents and vigilante groups to achieve operational efficiency and prevent cases of human rights abuse.
The Permanent Secretary, Security and Special Services, Mr. Usman Suleiman, said Adamawa State is one of the states affected by Boko- Haram.
He added that the local hunters and vigilantes were the ones who did most of the work concerning Boko-Haram, compared to the conventional security agents.
“The state government is still working towards synergy. We are supporting the hunters and the vigilantes. Some of them are even working in collaboration with the military agencies in their deployed areas.
While speaking on the Legal backing of the vigilante groups and the Hunter union, he said “it is important to note that the state has no security output of its own.
Nevertheless, the state still supports them, and that is why we have a level of relative peace.”
The Permanent Secretary also hinted that thestate is also struggling with farmer- herders clash.
“There is an existing conflict resolution committee (The Farmer Grazier committee) that helps to resolve farmer- herders clashes. The state government also regulates the movement of farmers during harvest. Each zone has its own time of movement. On the regulation of private security outfits in the state, I think that is the responsibility of the DSS”, he said.
While giving his remarks, Mr. Shettima Aliyu expressed his great concern regarding the under- aged people who were detained on the basis of drug abuse, even after they have promised to change.
” There are only two judges handling these cases and one of the judges usually takes 6-8 months before properly responding to these cases. It could be a huge threat to the security and mentality of the children locked up in the cells, as they are exposed to other drug dealers that could corrupt their mind and even lead them into further crimes.
He suggested that the children can be released and assisted by the state to be taken to rehabilitation centres, as some of them have poor parents that cannot afford to have them rehabilitated.
