President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday, warned local communities in Katsina State not to mete out capital punishment on any suspected bandit.
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He said any suspect caught by any community must rather be handed over to the law enforcement authorities.
Suspected bandits attacked two communities in the state last Friday, killing 30 persons and burning houses.
Buhari, who hails from the state, noted that meting out capital punishment on the bandits could lead to cycle of revenge and counter revenge.
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While condemning the latest attacks on farmers in Damkal and Tsanwa villages in Batsari Local Government Area of the state, the president stated that killing in the name of revenge is not acceptable.
Buhari gave the warning in a statement issued by Garba Shehu, his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity.
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He said: “No one in the country has a right to take laws into his hands by the way of self-help or revenge.
“Local communities that catch bandits should hand over the suspects to law enforcement authorities instead of meting out capital punishment, leading to a cycle of revenge and counter revenge.”
He urged community leaders and the local authorities to continue their efforts in partnership with law enforcement agencies, saying it will engender peace between farmers and herders.
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“The authorities must be allowed to investigate and deal with any breach that occurs. There is no place for violence in a decent society,” he added.
