The Katsina government has announced a ban on the activities of security volunteer groups (Yan Sa Kai), with immediate effect, accusing them of criminal acts.

This is contained in a statement to journalists on Monday, in Katsina, by the special assistant to Governor Aminu Masari on security matters, Ibrahim Katsina.

According to Mr Katsina, the measure was taken to end the surge in insecurity.

“The measure was taken in consideration of their overzealous criminal activities, leading to extrajudicial killings of innocent persons and looting their property, under the guise of ‘Yan Sa Kai’ operations,” said the Katsina government. The police and other security agencies have by this directives been mandated to enforce the dismantling of all ‘Yan Sa Kai’ activities across the state, forthwith.”

The statement added that the Katsina government “only recognises the activities of the vigilance group,” under the supervision, control and monitoring of the police, other security agencies and traditional institutions.

“Henceforth,” it warned, “nobody should take the law into his hands, under whatever guise. Arrested suspects should be handed over to the police or any security agency for proper investigation and action where needed.”

Meanwhile, the police spokesman in the state, SP Gambo Isah, has said the command had ordered its commanders and DPOs to go after “recalcitrant offenders and their sponsors wherever they are in the state.”

He urged the public to dissociate themselves from the disbanded group, cooperate with security agencies and “report any Dansakal or Yansakai within their domains.”

”The command will not fold its arms while some disgruntled members of the public take the law into their hands, brazenly killing innocent citizens, destroying and looting public property without recourse to the rule of law,” stated the police spokesman. ”The Nigeria Police Force, and indeed other sister security agencies, would deal decisively with any person or group of persons found parading themselves as Yan sakai or any other like name in the state.”

According to him, the Katsina government and security agencies recognise only the state sanctioned vigilanve group, “under the supervision of the police and traditional rulers.”

(NAN)