Residents in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau on Friday renewed their call for the state government to empower local vigilantes to protect lives and property.

The renewed call came as an aftermath of recent attacks in the area.

The Rekna (emir) of Bashar, Adamu Idris, made the call during a meeting between stakeholders in the LGA and Governor Simon Lalong at the council’s headquarters in Wase.

Represented by a member of his traditional council, Nuhu Ali, the emir said the local vigilance group was able to drive away bandits out of Sabon Gari community in times past and stressed that they would perform well if empowered.

Mr Ali expressed concern that communities which share borders with Taraba, Bauchi and Gombe were more vulnerable to attacks, urging government to deploy security personnel to those areas.

The Emir of Wase, Muhammad Haruna, who also sent an emissary, the Waziri of Wase, Muhammad Gbadamosi, thanked the governor for commiserating with the local government area over the loss of lives and property during the attack.

He called for concerted efforts to put an end to attacks in the area, adding that farmers desired to return to their sources of livelihood.

In his remarks, Chairman of Wase Local Government Council, Ado Buba, said 14 villages had been deserted following attacks by bandits.

He called for investigation and prosecution of suspects arrested to serve as deterrent to would-be bandits.

“We request for a well-equipped and manned clearance operations by security agencies, particularly the military to restore confidence in the people.

“We also want the establishment of army formation at our borders with Taraba, Bauchi and Gombe states.

“The army formation should cover villages like Pinau, Bangala, Kampani/Zurak, Zak, Sabon-Gari and Yuli,’’ he said.

In his remarks, the governor condoled with the communities over their losses and assured that government was already making efforts to improve security at border communities.

He said security agencies would be stationed in displaced towns to build peoples’ confidence to return to the villages.

(NAN)