Niger State, Governor Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has revealed that vigilante groups in the state will be equipped with pump action guns to fight back at armed Bandits terrorizing the state.

Bello made the disclosure during a meeting with over 200 vigilantes at Kasuwan Garba in Mariga Local Government Area of the state as part of his moral boosting visits to vigilante groups across the state.

The vigilantes had told the governor that lack of modern weapons is one of the greatest challenges in their fight against the armed bandits.

According to them, the bandits are heavily equipped with modern and sophisticated weapons.

Responding, the governor stated that henceforth, all vigilantes in the state will be provided with automatic pump action to assist them fight back.

He also maintained that no amount of threat from the bandits will force the Government to disband the vigilante group in the state.

“We are not going to disband the vigilantes as a result of threat from the bandits, even when the Banditry activities in the state stopped, the vigilantes will still be there to provide security at the local government areas”

“There will be no dialogue but any of them that repent and surrender their weapons will be forgiven and we will compensate such bandits to be able to live a normal live in the society”.

It would be recalled the Bandits in a viral audio record demanded that Government must disband the vigilante group as one of the conditions for a ceasefire.

Bello further reiterated the stance of the state government not to go into any form of negotiation with the bandits nor pay ransom for the release of kidnapped victims in the state.

Earlier, the Chairman of Mariga local government Council, Alhaji Idris Suleiman said, “The vigilantes are on top of the security situation in the area. What they need is modern equipment to be able to confront these bandits who are carrying automatic weapons.”

He explained that 50 members of the vigilante picked from each of the four districts in the local government have fought to give the 22 villages under attack peace.

Source:- Daily Post