Nasarawa varsity engages 200 hunters, vigilantes to tackle kidnapping, cultism
by Moronfolu Adeyemi · The Eagle OnlineThe management of the Federal University of Lafia (FuLafia), Nasarawa State, says it is making significant progress in tackling kidnapping, cultism and other criminal activities around communities where many of its students reside.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Mohammed Isa Kida, disclosed this on Monday during an interaction with journalists at the university’s conference hall in Lafia, the state capital.
Kida said the university had sustained collaboration with security agencies, including the Police, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the military, to address security challenges in Mararaba and Akunza communities.
He said: “We partnered with the security agencies including the Police, DSS, Civil Defence and the military to address the recurring cases of insecurity bedevilling communities around the university.
“The University engaged about 200 volunteer hunters and vigilantes in order to provide security assistance and intelligence gathering to the professional security agencies for prompt action.
“So, these efforts helped us a lot in addressing the security challenges.”
The Vice-Chancellor also appealed to journalists in the state to support the university by helping to expose criminal elements involved in kidnapping and cultism-related activities.
Kida said: “I am soliciting support from the media in our struggle and fight against this incessant security menace bedevilling communities around the university.
“Imagine a child is writing his exams and he is kidnapped, and ransom is demanded that not even the parents can raise the money, not even the university can pay the money,” he lamented.
He explained that the decision to engage media representatives was based on the role of journalists in disseminating information and helping to draw attention to security concerns.
Kida said protecting students and staff from banditry, cultism and other criminal activities remained a priority for his administration.
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He said: “I have met with virtually all the communities that the students’ quarters are situated around.
“We have hired vigilantes, over 150 of them, they are on our payroll. We have hired hunters, nearly 50 of them too, and other volunteers.
“So, in the school and within the school community, we have on our payroll over 200 supporters in security matters, and we are also giving them stipends.
“They are not really enough, but they are seriously doing that magic for us,” he emphasised.
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