The Ƴan-Sakai are a group of volunteer security forces in Nigeria, particularly in the northern regions. They were created due to the security issues the areas have faced since 2010. The Yan-Sakai were previously known as the Ƴan-Banga.[1]
There are some Yan-Sakai members who have committed various crimes, such as killing innocent people, looting properties, and other criminal activities. The violence typically involves scores of gunmen on motorbikes sweeping into villages, shooting all the young men they can find on the assumption they belong to local vigilantes, and then carting away livestock and anything else of value.[2] The presence of these criminal elements has caused concern and raised questions about the overall effectiveness and integrity of the Yan-Sakai.[3]