Nasarawa University Deploys Over 200 Vigilantes, Hunters to Protect Students

The management of the Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, says it has made significant progress in tackling kidnapping, cultism and other criminal activities in Mararaba and Akunza communities, where thousands of its students reside. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Isa Kida, disclosed this on Monday during an interaction with journalists at the university’s conference hall in Lafia. Kida attributed the progress to sustained collaboration with security agencies, including the Police, Department of State Services, Civil Defence and the military. He said the university also engaged about 200 volunteer hunters and vigilantes to support security agencies through intelligence gathering and other security assistance. According to him, the combined efforts have helped address recurring security challenges affecting communities around the university.

The Vice-Chancellor also appealed to journalists in the state to support the university by helping expose criminal elements involved in kidnapping and cultism-related activities. He stressed that protecting students and staff from banditry, cultism and other criminal activities remained a priority, noting that the university could not afford to have students kidnapped while writing examinations or pursuing their studies. Kida said the university had engaged with communities where students live and placed more than 150 vigilantes and nearly 50 hunters on its payroll, while other volunteers also provide security support. He acknowledged that the number was still insufficient but said the personnel had contributed significantly to improving security around the university community.

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