Yobe Govt condemns media report on alleged killing of civilians by vigilantes
he Yobe Government has condemned a recent media report alleging the unlawful use of power and shooting of innocent civilians by a vigilante group in Gujba Local Government Area (LGA).
Brig.-Gen. Dahiru Abdussallam (Rtd), the Special Adviser to Gov Mai Mala Buni on Security, made this known to newsmen on Thursday in Damaturu.
He said the report, published by Zagazola Media Network, was authored by Zagazola Makama and occurred on Sept. 30, 2024.
Abdussallam said the reporter did not do justice to the issue because he failed to listen to both sides of the conflict and only reported one side of the story.
He explained that the incident involved vigilante volunteers privately engaged by farm owners to protect their crops from herders’ encroachment or theft.
He added that the people shot by the vigilante were alleged to have gone to a farm to steal sesame seeds.
After the shooting incident, according to him, members of the Hunters Group under Commander Idrissa, Sarkin Baka, went to the scene and assisted in evacuating the victims to the hospital.
“The matter in respect of the first victim was reported to the Metro Area Command of the Nigeria Police in Damaturu by the Hunters Group operatives before the victims were taken to the hospital for treatment by personnel of the Nigeria Police Area Command.
“The second set of three victims evacuated by the Hunters Group were similarly handed over to the Nigeria Police Crack Squad, Damaturu, whose personnel took the victims to the Specialist Hospital for treatment,” he explained.
Abdussallam said for the avoidance of doubt, the Office of the Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Governor of Yobe is a Security Coordination Centre with no direct or indirect command of any security agency in the state.
“Reports of infractions on the fundamental rights of citizens should be channeled to the appropriate government organ responsible for dealing with such issues,” he said.
He noted that Yobe government would not condone any act of lawlessness against any citizen by any security agency domiciled in the state and beyond.
He advised media practitioner that has personal issues with any government official to channel such grievances appropriately for redress.
Abdussallam also advised the public to refrain from making unsubstantiated allegations that had no verifiable facts or evidence.
