Nigeria's Pulaku vigilantes: rescuers for some, accused abusers for others

In May 2023, Pulaku vigilantes rescued Daniel Musa, a pastor abducted by armed kidnappers in Adamawa State, after a three-day ordeal and a ransom demand of 15 million naira. Since then, the group has grown to more than 500 members, receives vehicles from Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and works alongside the Adamawa State Police Command in joint raids. While many locals credit Pulaku with saving lives and curbing cattle theft, others allege the group detains civilians, beats them and operates without legal authority.

Human-rights activist Haruna Hamza claims he was held and tortured for over two months, a charge the group's commander Musa Usman Malkohi denies. Legal scholars note no statute formally empowers Pulaku to arrest or punish suspects, raising concerns about accountability. The situation highlights Nigeria's broader reliance on community militias amid failing state security forces.