The unveiling of the northern security outfit code-named Operation ‘Shege Ka Fasa’ by the Coalition of Northern Group, CNG, on Wednesday comes barely a month after the South West Governors launched the regional security outfit code named ‘Amotekun.’
Spokesman of the Coalition of Northern Group, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman during the unveiling said the decision to set up the security outfit is due to the increasing cases of banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism in the region.
He also called on the nineteen northern states governors to urgently join the initiative and provide the necessary legal framework for its operation in order to secure the lives of the people.
“In the prevailing circumstances, the only option is to resort to voluntary self-defence mechanisms in line with initiatives taken by other regions that are even least affected in comparison to what is obtained in the North.”
The spokesman of the group while giving further reason for the establishment of the security outfit said the dwindling economy, rising poverty and crippling security situation in the northern region requires the active involvement of communities that are at the receiving end.
“A new dimension was introduced to the farmers/herders conflict which gradually deteriorated into an uncontrollable proportion and deepened the artificial rift between communities in the region”.
“This trend suddenly metamorphosed into a deadly armed banditry and kidnapping for ransom which is recycled for arms and drugs. This is in addition to another frustrating trend of the theft and forced trafficking in northern children to other parts of the country for reasons that are largely dubious”.
The northern regional security outfit according to the initiators will complement the efforts of the police, the military, the state security services to detect, expose and defeat all criminal machinations and carry out specific and general tasks that would realign the attitude and thinking of the public with the ideals and objectives of the founding fathers of the North.
The group which is made up of various socio-political organisations during the launch in Kaduna State said the security outfit is aimed at protecting the lives and property of citizens in the region and will be formally inaugurated in the few weeks.
The Coalition noted that while the insurgency raged, other disturbances were created in the region in the form of cattle rustling that pitched northern communities against each other.
The group has already procured vehicles and trained personnel in preparation for the commencement of operation.
