Anti-terrorism in Nigeria: Vigilante forces protect communities

It looks like a military training. This group of men and women are getting ready for a night patrol. They’re in Nigerian northern city of Kaduna, just 100 kilometers from where 300 school children were recently kidnapped. This local vigilante group called Civilian Joint Task Force was formed to protect local communities from armed terrorist groups. I was also kidnapped and as a victim, you know, I was taken to their camp and I spent a week in the camp. It was not the funny experience. I was really beating, you know, threatening to be killed. These vigilante groups believe they have an advantage over state security forces. They’re often more familiar with the territories and forests where armed gangs operate. But for this terrorism expert, most of them are inadequately equipped, if you don’t control arms to protect their community, I think criminal elements will capitalize on that opportunity and explore that opportunity in their criminal enterprise. So I think the government should, you know, you know, give these guys. Effective training. If need be, they want to permit them to carry out arms. But. As these groups are about to step into the night, despite their lack of resources, they remain committed to protecting their communities in these difficult circumstances.