Pro-Government Militias
Zamfara State Vigilante (umbrella org. for various Sharia enforcement vigilantes) (Nigeria)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 408 |
| Country: | Nigeria |
| Date formed: | Feb. 12, 2000 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | The vigilante group set up in 2000 by the Zamfara state governor to monitor the observance of the strict Islamic code. |
| Date dissolved: | Unknown |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | |
| Termination Type(s): | none |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | none |
| Private Military Company? | no |
| Former Group? | no information |
| Former Armed Group? | no information |
| Former Rebel Group? | no information |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? | no information |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: | semi-official (type 2) |
| Created by the Government?: | yes | Main Creating Government Institution: | person/minister |
| Government Link(s): | sub-national government |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | no information |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | religious |
| Primary Membership: | religious |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Zamfara state |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, 2000] |
| Target(s): | civilians |
| Purpose(s): | self-defense and security; anti crime |
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Membership: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Purpose: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | not applicable |
Other Information
| Other Information: | Vigilante groups under within the Zamfara State Vigilante are Joint Aid Group, Yan Agaji, The Legion, Man O' War, and Civil Defense. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | When Sharia laws were instituted in Zamfara state in 2000, the governor created the militia so that it enforces the Islamic Sharia laws. Its purpose was to complement the work of the regular police that is accountable to the federal government. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The militia enforced Sharia law against alleged criminals. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | beating |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no information |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | No information. |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: | The group has about 2,000 men. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | The militia was equipped with batons, swords, knives and axes and received training and donations. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The governor of Zamfara state was head of the militia. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.