The activities of a vigilante Group, Yansakai, also known as ‘Volunteers’ in Katsina State, has been responsible for fueling mass killings in the local government areas of the state, according to the governor of the state.
Governor Aminu Bello Masari made the allegation on Sunday during his visit to the temporary camp of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Dandume LGA.
According to Masari, security agencies now find it extremely difficult to deal with banditry and other related crimes in the state, as a result of the activities of Yansakai.
He added that the state government only support vigilante groups that have been recognised by the law enforcement agencies.
Advertisement
The governor said, “We don’t accept neither have we approved Yansakai, as in most cases, they are responsible for triggering the mass killings of innocent citizens.
“Yansakai can travel 30 kilometres from their place and kill a Fulani or anybody they suspect to be a bandit and when the bandits in the forest come, they attack the nearest innocent community. It has happened in Kadisau and many areas that have recorded massive killings.
“It is the matter of restoring confidence but most of the villages that these victims came from are deserted now. We want to make sure that there is the presence of military and police before they go back.”
The governor had earlier visited the IDP camps in Faskari and Kadisau to also commiserate with the people over the recent attacks by bandits which left over 50 innocent citizens dead.
A total of 3,888 IDPs – mostly women and children – have been taking shelter for 42 days in Dandume after being displaced from about 27 villages in Faskari LGA.