Emir Of Minna Wades Into Police, Vigilante Corps Rift
The Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umaru Faruk Bahago, has waded into the crisis between the Niger State Commissioner of Police, Monday Bala Kuryas and the commander of the state Vigilantes Corps, Nasiru Mohammed Manta.
Daily Trust reported that the vigilantes had shut their operations after their commander was arrested and detained by the police on the orders of the CP following the arrest of some youths accused of disrupting the peace in Minna, the state capital.
The vigilantes’ commander told our correspondent that he had already directed the resumption of operations but was no longer interested in working with the police.
“Each time we work with the DSS, we don’t have a problem. I expected a thorough investigation into whatever allegations levelled against me and my boys which was not the case. I was disgraced.
“And as we resume work now, the only thing we shall do is to watch if arresting the criminals would end in our detention.
“You know, anytime these miscreants want to start and they see us, they run away. That role of scaring them away is enough. We won’t touch any of them. We have left the issue of arrest to the police,” he said.
Manta said people had been calling him to reopen, noting that it would be wrong of him if he had remained adamant after several appeals from citizens, adding that he would also not disrespect the emir.
He said he had warned his boys to be law-abiding and desist from participating in any assignment that which they were not officially invited.
Daily Trust
