As Gbagyi ethnic communities have been ravaged by banditry, the Gbagyi Elders Forum (GEF) has called for the vigilante in the community to bear arms to match the various terrorist groups.

This is also coming on the heels of the recent summit of Gbagyi elders in Abuja,  that was organised to foster unity among the Gbagyis in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, Kaduna, Kogi, Nassarawa, and Niger states.

The chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Forum, Elder Peterson Kaura who read the communique of the GEF  in Minna at the weekend, officially unveiled the  Forum with the theme “Uniting for a Greater Future.”

He stated that, in response to persistent attacks on farming communities,   the forum  has adopted spiritual means to combat bandits and other  insurgents disturbing their communities

Similarly, he appealed that their youths, who have volunteered as vigilantes and members of the Civilian Task Force, should be supported by the government with sophisticated weapons so that they have the same firepower as bandits in order to defend the communities effectively.

He said the ever-peaceful  Gbagyi land is being threatened by insecurity, urbanisation, politics, and  economic marginalization, even as he expressed the forum’s readiness to partner with government at all levels to overcome the challenges.

He said, “There is an urgent need for governments at all levels to collaborate to tackle the insecurity and banditry that has been ravaging our ancestral land, especially in Kaduna, Niger, Kogi, and the FCT.

“A Gbagyi Land Rights Committee shall be set up to strategize and engage with policymakers and government authorities to address ancestral land ownership rights and protection, as well as secure compensation for displaced communities.”

He also called on the federal government to  award the contract for the completion of the road extending from Sarkin-Pawa, Munya LGA of Niger State, to Kaduna to open the area for security operations and economic activities.

The Anambra State Police Command has said it has rescued a pregnant woman who was illegally detained by some operatives of the state vigilante service over a case of alleged stealing.

The victim was allegedly detained at the security office of the vigilante office in Okija, on the orders of her husband over a case of stealing.

In a press statement on Wednesday, the spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, said the incident report was intercepted in a trending video by the Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Itam.

Ikenga said after seeing the video, the CP ordered rescue operations and an investigation into the report, just as he frowned on the act of detaining and inhumane treatment of suspects by some AVG members in the state.

The statement read in part, “The Anambra State Police Command has rescued a pregnant woman allegedly detained over a case of stealing by her husband in a security office at Okija.

“The report of the incident was intercepted in a trending video by the Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Itam, as he ordered rescue operations and an investigation into the report.

“Meanwhile, the CP frowns on such acts of indiscriminate detention and inhuman treatment of suspects by some members of the Anambra Vigilante Group. He assured the state that the root cause of the incidents would be addressed to avert future occurrence.”

According to him, the CP has also initiated necessary moves with relevant authorities to check the excesses of the few unprofessional AVG members in the state.

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Suspected armed bandits on Tuesday ambushed a joint team of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps and vigilante members in Baure Village, killing 21 of the local security men.

The team was returning from a condolence visit when the attack occurred at around 4:30pm on Tuesday January 7, 2025.

Katsina State Police Command confirmed this assault on Friday, stating that the operatives from the Safana Divisional Headquarters responded promptly to the incident, restoring normalcy to the area.

A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu said efforts were underway to apprehend perpetrators of the heinous act.

“The Command is committed to ensuring that those responsible for this dastardly act are brought to justice,” the statement read.

“Further developments will be communicated as the investigation progresses.”

The incident has left the local community in shock, as attacks by bandits continue to pose significant challenges to security in the region.

Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies in their efforts to maintain peace and stability.