The Bauchi State Government has warned that the arrest and prolonged detention of 47 community vigilantes during the Disina State Constituency bye-election could create a security vacuum in communities where they operate.
The government made the position known while reacting to the arrest of the vigilantes during the September 19 bye-election in Shira Local Government Area.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr Usman Usman Shehu, the government said the affected persons had been contributing to community security and maintaining peace and public order before the election.
It argued that the vigilantes’ knowledge of their communities and local terrain had made them important components of the state’s broader security efforts.
According to the government, removing 47 active volunteers from the frontline could provide an opportunity for criminal elements and other mischief-makers whose activities had previously been checked by the community-based security structures.
The government said it was particularly concerned because, according to its account, there was no established evidence that the arrested persons interfered with election materials or disrupted the voting process.
It therefore appealed to the relevant authorities to review the circumstances surrounding the arrests and ensure that anyone accused of wrongdoing was treated in accordance with due process.
The government also called for the immediate and unconditional release of the 47 community volunteers, stressing that community security personnel should not be subjected to political victimisation because of their lawful responsibilities.
