The Emir of Zurmi in Zamfara, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, has warned Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) members in the state against attacking innocent persons, including herdsmen.
The Emir made the call on Tuesday in Zurmi, while inaugurating the 500 newly recruited JTF members in the emirate.
The state government introduced the recruitment of 500 persons from each of the 17 emirates in state into the JTF as part of efforts to tackle security challenges in the state.
Atiku said, “the JTF members have no right to attack innocent persons, therefore you must be law-abiding; you must cooperate with the security agencies.
“We noticed that some of you are attacking innocent Fulani herdsmen. Not all Fulani are criminals and even if you see criminals among them you should arrest them and hand them over to the conventional security agencies.
“You are recruited by the state government to assist security personnel to carryout operations not to take laws into your hands; it is unfair to be attacking innocent persons.”
He also charged them to be honest, transparent and committed to their duties.
He thanked the state government for introducing the JTF and assured them of maximum support of the emirate.
The monarch commended heads of security agencies in the area and promised to continue to work with them in tackling the situation.
In their separate remarks, representatives of Nigerian Army, Capt. Yusuf Danjuma and Divisional Police Officer in Zurmi, Mu’azu Maigari, urged JTF members to work in line with laid down rules and regulations guiding their operations.
Earlier, Chairman of Zurmi Local Government Area, Dr Awwal Bawa, had said that the state government came up with the JTF to address security challenges facing the state.
He appealed to people of the area to assist the security agencies with useful information to enhance their work. With reports by NAN
