By DANJUMA JOSEPH, Lafia –
The Nasarawa State Police Command, has distanced itself from the controversy surrounding the formation of the Miyetti Allah Vigilante Group in the state.
Commissioner of Police, Nasarawa state command, CP Shehu n Nadada, made the denial on Tuesday in his office at the Police Headquarters, when he hosted officials and members of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nasarawa State Council.
CP Nadada told Journalists, that the command was not officially notified about the formation of the Fulani Nomad Vigilante outfit.
“I am assuring you that the Nomad Vigilante as they call themselves are on their own. There was no formal report made to the police concerning the formation and subsequent inauguration. Nobody wrote to me or called me that he is coming the command headquarters for anything”..
“We have been working with other vigilante groups that are recognised by the government, but we will not work with any vigilante that is not recognised by the government”
“Like I have said, nobody informed the command in writing or verbally about the vigilante group, but ordinarily, if there is any gathering like that, we cannot allow people to gather without providing security for them to avoid hoodlums hijacking the gathering” he said.
CP Nadada, commended journalists in the state for according the Police the necessary cooperation in publicising their activities.
The commissioner said that the contributions of journalists to the development of any society, and of course policing of the society cannot be undermined.
“Media practitioners in the state have proven to be true professionals in their reportage, and have always contacted us to get clarification before publishing or airing their reports”
“The coverage of police activities in the state has been unprecedented and we need to commend you and appeal that it should be sustained”
“Without coverage of our activities the public will not know the efforts we are making in fighting crime, and the feat we have achieved,” he said.
Nadada, disclosed that the command had concluded plans to expand the anti-kidnapping unit of the police from two to five across the state for efficiency.
Earlier, Salihu Alkali, NUJ Chairman in the state, congratulated Nadada on his posting as the commissioner of Police in the state and promised to support him to succeed.
He commended the Police for their relentless effort toward fighting crime and appealed that patrol should be stepped up at Nasarawa State Polytechnic Lafia and Federal University of Lafia.
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