Borno killings: DHQ puts vigilantes under watch

AUGUST 29, 2013 

Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Chris Olukolade
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The authorities of the Defence Headquarters has said it is keeping the activities of  Borno Youth Vigilante Group popularly referred to as the civilian JTF in the state under close watch.

The military authorities said that the members of the youth group which volunteered to fight the dreaded Boko Haram  sect  were restricted from going on their own to arrest any suspected member of the sect in any part of the state without the authorisation from security operatives.

The Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen Chris Olukolade, said in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Wednesday, that the security operatives would ensure that the youth whose activities had resulted in the arrest of several Boko Haram members and commanders were given the expected protection.

He said while they were not authorised to carry fire arms, they were recognised as allies entitled to protection by security agencies.

Olukolade was reacting to the recurrent killings of large number of the members of the vigilance group by the Boko Haram members in the state.

He said, “They  (civilian JTF) have been guaranteed of their protection with the fact that they are required to be under the control of the forces on ground.

“They are not allowed to go on their own to carry out arrests; they are not permitted to just gather together and say they are going to carry out arrest without the presence of security operatives because they are seen as allies in this campaign.

“Much as they are not allowed to carry arms and ammunition, they are entitled to protection.”

A security source confided in our correspondent that there was concern in security circles  about the increase in the number of the members of the youth group who had been killed by the sect members.

The source said security agencies had discovered that the members of the sect were plotting plot to lay ambush for the members of the youth group for attacks in remote communities in the state.