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By Joy Funmilola Oke
Summary: A group of 20 Muslim and Christian women in Jos, Plateau State, have formed an all-female vigilante group to confront violence, theft, and drug-related crimes in their community, conducting nightly patrols without government support or basic equipment.
Women in Jos, Plateau State, have formed an all-female vigilante group to confront insecurity in their community. According to Reuters, the women patrol their neighbourhood nightly, armed with whips and identification cards.
The group is led by Blessing Ngozi Emmanuel, who stated that their presence has begun to yield results.
“It has reduced even the taking of drugs. All these picking pockets — small, small picking pockets still here and there, but have drastically reduced in this community,” she stated.
The group was formed four years ago following the death of the community’s main vigilante commander, known as Big Tan, after which the existing security force collapsed. Member Aisha Tamusa stated that religious tensions between Muslims and Christians had increased in the vacuum that followed.
“We, as women, decided to contribute to bringing change,” she stated. The group now conducts nightly patrols from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., focusing on areas most vulnerable to crime.
Their work has not come without risks. Members have been injured during operations and received threats. One member stated she was warned she could be made to disappear if she continued her involvement.
The group stated that it operates without government support and lacks basic equipment, including torches and uniforms. Local government officials visited them only weeks ago, in what the group described as a sign of growing interest in their work. No material support has followed yet.
The emergence of the group reflects the worsening security situation in Plateau State, where incidents of violence, abduction, and communal attacks have persisted.
