The Armed Forces of Nigeria High Command says the head of vigilantes in Rigasa area of Kaduna State was arrested because he is allegedly aiding banditry.
Members of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Kaduna State, on Thursday, had staged a protest over the arrest of their Commander, Aminu Sani, popularly known as Bolo, who was arrested by troops at his residence 16 days ago.
The State JTF Commander was arrested at Rigasa community alongside two other youths. But the youths were released hours later.
The CJTF Zone 1 Commander, Usman Abdullahi, told journalists in Kaduna on Thursday after the protest at their office in Rigasa Community of Igabi LGA, that all efforts to trace their Commander proved abortive.
“We believe he is in a military custody because when they picked him about 15 days ago, we made so many effort to find out his offence but we were denied access to him,” he said.
According to him, they only staged the peaceful protest to show their grievances over his arrest.
Another member of the group, Linda John, described the State Commander as a straight-forward leader whose interest is to fight crime, appealing to the government to intervene in finding their leader and to ensure he return home to his family.
But Brigadier Geenral Benard Onyeuko, Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, told journalists on Thursday that troops of Nigerian Army attached to the Operation THUNDER STRIKE and WHIRL PUNCH, arrested Bolo over alleged ties to bandits.
General Onyeuko said he was captured by the troops after a notorious bandit was arrested December 3, 2021, at Paka community in Igabi LGA of the State, adding that a notorious bandit had revealed to troops that the head of vigilantes in Rigasa was aiding banditry in the area.
”The general security situation in the Operation THUNDER STRIKE/WHIRL PUNCH theatres were relatively calm within the period in focus. However, a few incidents of security concern were recorded.
”In the course of the operations within the period, troops intercepted and arrested criminal elements as well as recovered arms and ammunitions.
”Notably, on 3 December 2021, troops arrested a notorious armed bandit at Paka community in Igabi LGA of Kaduna State, who revealed that the Head of vigilantes in Rigasa aids armed banditry and is involved in some attacks and kidnap incidents in the environment.
”Other incidents with significant results were recorded at; Hayin Gada and Rugan Alhaji Ori villages in Igabi LGA of Kaduna State,” the military spokesman told newsmen at the briefing.
He also disclosed that troops had held peace and security meetings with critical stakeholders as non-kinetic means of tackling insecurity.