Amid rising security concerns in Nasarawa State, the community volunteer guards have called on Governor Abdullahi Sule to give it the mandate to secure public schools.
The Commandant General of the guards, Mr Sabiu Idris made the appeal in a chat with newsmen on Thursday in Lafia, the state capital.
The Nigerian Vigilante Corps in the state had transformed into volunteer guards following the inability of the government to accord them recognition.
Idris said the body has the manpower to provide security across all public schools in the state.
Tribune Online reports that Governor Sule had to shut down all public schools in the state, following the attack on Kuje Correctional Center and the release of terrorists and other criminal elements in its custody.
The governor also raised alarm over the influx of terrorists from neighbouring states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He had said security reports indicated that bandits fleeing from Niger, Zamfara, Kebbi and Kaduna states, were identified in Rugan Juli and Rugan Madaki both in Karu Local Government Area, as well as in Wamba and Toto local government areas of the state.
Idris said his officers and men arrested more than 100 kidnappers and other criminal elements and handed the same to the police within the last two years.
He said what the guards required from the state government are logistics and monthly stipends for officers and men of the command to enable them to carry out their function effectively.
He appealed to the state government to impress on the local government chairmen to also assist officers and men of the guards in their area through monthly stipends to ease their operations.
He commended Governor Sule for donating a Hilux vehicle for their operation while urging him to assist in refurbishing their only official vehicle which has been grounded.
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