Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has launched the Niger Special Vigilante Corps (NSVC), following the activities of youth gangs causing crisis in Minna, the Niger State capital.
The corps, according to the governor was established to check the activities of youth gangs, especially in Minna, adding that they were drawn from nine different local security outfits.
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Launching the corps at the Police Headquarters, Minna on Tuesday, Bello said the special vigilante corps is to compliment the manpower deficit in the conventional security agencies.
He pointed out that the corps’ area of responsibility was restricted to Minna and its environs particularly to tackle the violent activities of youth gangs in the state capital.
While applauding the security agencies for their fight against banditry, he said bandits must not force people to change their style of living.
“Bandits have forced us to change our way of life in Niger State. They stopped our children from going to school, stopped us from travelling on our roads, stopped farmers from going to the farm and now they are trying to stop our children from going to Islamic school, but we will not be intimidated. We will not allow that to happen. We will continue to live our normal lives,” he said.
The governor however urged parents to live up to their responsibility through good parenting.