The Abuja City Journal has uncovered distressing accusations of widespread abuses carried out by a state-sponsored vigilante group known as the Nasarawa State Volunteer Guards, in collaboration with the police. According to numerous eyewitness accounts and victim testimonies, these security personnel, who were originally intended to provide safety and curb criminal activity, have been accused of sexually molesting women, extorting money, and seizing valuables from residents under the guise of enforcing a mysterious, unknown law.

Governor Abdullahi Sule signed the Executive Order establishing the Nasarawa State Volunteer Guard and the Nasarawa State Kidnapping Act Prohibition Bill into law in February 2020 as part of efforts to combat the state’s escalating criminal activity.

Since the execution of the aforementioned Executive Order and Law, members of the Volunteer Guards have generally functioned with little regulations.

During late-night patrols, members of these organisations allegedly utilise their authority to harass, mistreat, and extort residents and commuters. The most vulnerable groups, particularly women and young girls, have been allegedly targeted for sexual harassment and assault by those tasked with protecting them.

The Night of Fear: When Vigilantes Turn Predators

Under the cover of darkness, it is alleged that members of the Nasarawa State-sponsored vigilante group and community volunteer guards often stop and detain individuals, especially young women, in secluded areas. These victims, often accused of fabricated offenses like breaking curfews or improper dressing, are then threatened with arrest unless they provide money, surrender their valuables, or in some cases, comply with sexual demands.

On Saturday, September 14, 2024, these intimidating guards invaded bars and clubs indiscriminately, taking young girls around 11 p.m. Margaret Abudu, a sales attendant at a prominent Abuja supermarket, was returning home from work when she was stopped at Adehi Junction in One Man Village. She continually asked what her offence was, but none of the officers, who numbered around 12, could tell her.

The Abuja City Journal‘s undercover reporter who witnessed the incident tracked the van bringing the “offenders” to New Nyanya Police Station, where approximately 15 people, largely young women, were arrested. Our undercover reporter, purporting to be the spouse of one of the detained girls, was told by one of the cops in a military-style camouflage headgear that the girls’ offence was “late hour.”

“You wan bail your friend or you wan know their [pointing to the suspects sitting on the bare floor] offence?”, the officer spoke rudely.

“If you want to bail her, na N20,000. If she sleep for here, na till Monday you go see am because we no dey bail people on Sunday.”

Victims have recounted horrifying encounters to Abuja City Journal where vigilantes, wielding weapons, intimidate them into compliance. Many women have reported being taken to isolated locations where they are molested or raped. One victim, Blessing who operates Point of Sales (PoS) business in Mararaba, told Abuja City Journal that on one occasion when she was taken to the police station after been arrested at 11pm, one of the officers told her to, “‘bail yourself. You be fine girl. No be everything be money.’ He then asked if I can follow him to a motel close to Ado Junction, not far from the police station.”

These assaults are frequently followed by threats to keep silent or face retaliation from the perpetrators, making it nearly impossible for victims to seek justice.

A 24-year-old victim who spoke with Abuja City Journal, who chose to remain anonymous, recounted her harrowing ordeal: “I was returning home from work one night when a group of armed vigilantes stopped me. They accused me of being out too late and demanded N25,000. When I couldn’t produce enough cash, [all I had one me was N5000], one of them dragged me into a dark uncompleted building and they sexually assaulted me in turns. One of them told me that if I spoke up, they would claim I was resisting arrest.”

Another victim, a 19-year-old student at University of Abuja, shared a similar experience: “They caught me walking home after visiting a friend. They claimed I committed ‘late hour’ and threatened to take me to police station at New Karu. Instead, they took my phone and all the money I had on me. When I resisted, they started touching me inappropriately and told me that this is what happens to women who walk around at night.”

Other favourite or vulnerable targets from the vigilantes are young men allegedly into Internet Fraud called “Yahoo boys”. Garba, tea vendor at One Man Village, told Abuja City Journal how they arrested an undergraduate student of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, sometimes in 2022. “They collect his ‘big’ phone and ask if he has money in his account. I know the ‘yaro’. Na school he dey go. He no get wahala,” Garba said.

Extortion on the Rise: Residents Forced to Pay for ‘Protection’

Beyond sexual molestation, extortion has become a pervasive issue in many communities across Nasarawa State. Residents report being forced to pay money to these vigilante groups and volunteer guards for minor infractions—or no offence at all. Extortion tactics range from demanding bribes in exchange for avoiding arrest to seizing personal belongings under the pretence of enforcing community safety.

One local restaurant owner popularly called “Mama Put”, who also asked for anonymity out of fear of retaliation, described the extortion racket: “These men claim they are enforcing some law, but it’s all about money. If you’re out at night or if they think you have something valuable, they’ll stop you and demand cash. If you refuse, they either threaten to take you to the police or confiscate whatever they want.”

The businessman continued, “I’ve lost my watch, my wallet, and phone to these men. The police are in on it too—if you go to report, they’ll claim the vigilantes are acting within the law. It’s a law we’ve never heard of, but they use it to justify their actions.”

Police Complicity and Silence

Perhaps most shocking is the alleged complicity of the local police in these crimes. Victims and residents report that complaints made to the police often go unheeded. In some cases, the police are accused of collaborating with vigilantes, sharing in the spoils of extortion, and offering protection to the perpetrators in exchange for a cut of the money.

Several victims of abuse claim that when they attempted to report their experiences to the authorities, they were dismissed or intimidated into silence. The police, they say, either deny the incidents or offer no assistance, allowing the vigilante groups to continue their illegal activities unchecked.

“The police won’t help,” said a victim. “When I went to report that I was assaulted, they told me I had no proof, and that it was likely my word against the vigilantes’. They even suggested that I was out at night because I wanted trouble.”

This atmosphere of impunity has left many residents feeling abandoned by the very institutions designed to protect them. Instead of providing security, the vigilante groups and community guards have become a source of fear and exploitation for the people of Nasarawa.

Abuja City Journal made efforts to speak with the Nasarawa State Police Command Spokesperson, DSP Ramhan Nansel but all efforts to reach him proved abortive as his number wasn’t going through at the time of filing this report.

Legal Grey Area: Unknown Laws, Unchecked Powers

One of the key issues contributing to the rise in abuses is the lack of transparency and clear regulation governing the activities of these vigilante groups. Residents have voiced their confusion over what laws are being enforced and the legal basis for the vigilantes’ actions. No official government communication has been made regarding the curfews or restrictions that these groups cite when harassing individuals at night.

Human rights groups, such as the Community Peacebuilding Initiative, have called for an urgent investigation into the activities of the Nasarawa vigilante groups and their alignment with the law. Activists argue that in the absence of a legal framework, these groups have taken matters into their own hands, with little oversight or accountability.

“The absence of proper regulation and the lack of transparency about these so-called community laws has created a dangerous situation,” said Barr. Chukwudi Amaechi, an Abuja-based lawyer. “These vigilantes are operating in a legal grey area, which allows them to exploit and terrorize the local population without fear of consequences. No law criminalises movement at ‘late hours’ if citizens can provide sufficient explanations.”

Governor Sule Maintains Silence

On Sunday, September 15, 2024, the Abuja City Journal contacted Yakubu Lamai, the Governor of Nasarawa State’s Director General (Strategic Communication & Events Management), seeking comment on the subject. After several calls from our reporter, he texted, “I’ll call you back later.” At the time of reporting this article, he had failed to return our calls or react to our WhatsApp messages.

Calls for Accountability and Justice

The growing number of reports has sparked outrage among human rights activists and civil society organizations, who are demanding immediate government action to address the rampant abuses. Advocacy groups are calling for inquiry into the activities of the Nasarawa State-sponsored vigilante groups and their relationship with the police.

“There is an urgent need for the Nasarawa State Government to step in and take decisive action,” Kingsley Abe, the Director of the Abuja-based Community Peacebuilding Initiative told Abuja City Journal. “The activities of these vigilantes are not just a violation of human rights, but they are undermining the rule of law. If these abuses are allowed to continue, it will further erode the trust between the people and the authorities.”

Amid these growing concerns, local officials in Nasarawa have remained silent on the matter. Calls for clarity on the legal framework guiding the activities of these vigilante groups have been met with little response. However, pressure is mounting for the state government to rein in these groups and ensure that justice is served for the victims.

As the outcry continues, residents of Nasarawa remain caught in a web of fear, uncertain of when or if relief will come. For now, the streets of Nasarawa, particularly after dark, are no longer seen as places of safety, but zones where lawlessness reigns under the guise of community protection.