The rise of 'Pulaku', a predominantly Fulani vigilante organisation operating in northeastern Nigeria's Adamawa State, has highlighted the complex security vacuum in the region. While the volunteer group is credited by some residents with rescuing kidnap victims and countering cattle rustling where formal security forces struggle to reach, it has simultaneously faced severe accusations of human rights abuses and unauthorized detentions.

Authorities reportedly rely heavily on the vigilantes due to their intimate knowledge of the rugged terrain, dense forests, and mountainous hideouts used by criminal networks. However, reports of suspects being subjected to prolonged unlawful detention and severe physical violence by vigilante members have raised urgent questions regarding accountability and oversight of armed civilian groups operating outside the official law enforcement framework.

The region continues to grapple with persistent violence, including rampant kidnappings for ransom and massive livestock theft that severely impacts local pastoralist communities. Analysts point out that the reliance on parallel security structures like Pulaku underscores the systemic failures of the state to guarantee public safety, leaving vulnerable populations caught between ruthless criminal gangs and largely unregulated local militias.

Source: www.aljazeera.com