FCT prohibits the use of weapons by vigilance organizations

The use of firearms by members of watch groups operating in the Federal Capital Territory has been outlawed by the FCT Security Committee’s Code of Conduct.
The security committee also forbade them from conducting operations in their respective jurisdictions without the police present or without the express consent of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), according to the recently established Code of Conduct for members of Vigilance Groups in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to a statement from Muhammad Hazat Sule, director of information and communication in the FCT, members of the vigilance groups are allowed to own and use guns for self-defense or other legal purposes as determined by the DPO.

These were some of the choices made by the FCT Security Committee at its 11th meeting, which was held in Abuja’s Gwarinpa I District and presided over by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello.
Likewise, the newly approved code mandated that any group member who recovers a dangerous weapon from a criminal suspect be expected to keep a thorough account and notify the authorities for further inquiry.

According to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act of 2015, the Committee gave the vigilante group permission to arrest anyone who disobeyed the law.

The committee decided that any community seeking to form a vigilance group should apply to the local DPO for permission before doing so.

The Community Accountability Forum CAF/Security Committee of the affected community was mandated to oversee the recruitment of members of the vigilance group by the FCT Security Committee, which is the highest decision-making body on security concerns.
“The CAF is to prevent religious, political, and ethnic persuasion and to provide a fair representation of all elements of society.

The community leaders and security agencies must properly profile every applicant, it was also decided at the meeting.

In order to supplement the work of security services, particularly in gathering intelligence and stepping up the fight against criminals, he said, “The FCT Administration urges communities to organize vigilante organizations.”