Ronke Kehinde/
In the face of incessant crimes across Nigeria, a non-governmental security organisation has called on the Police, the Military, and paramilitary forces to team up if they must win the war against crimes and other social vices in the country.
The call was made by Chief Jimoh Aliu, the Deputy Commandant General, South West, Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) during a press briefing at NUJ House, Alausa, in Ikeja at the weekend.
Chief Aliu stressed the need for the incorporation of VGN into the security apparatus of Nigeria “as it will significantly and positively improve our internal security and transform our policing from that of reactive and incident response to proactive policing”.
At the event that was well attended by all area commandants and officers of VGN South-West Zone, the area commanders of Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti states stressed the need for the governors of these states to support them and make use of VGN members as the state security police instead of recruiting new people because they have been trained by the Police and the Army.
The group, however, commended the Federal Executive Council under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on their recognition and endorsement of a national policy on Community Policing.
Chief Aliu said, “VGN, for five years now has been championing and canvassing for a national recognition of community policing as the panacea to the security challenges facing our dear nation.
“VGN is present in the 36 states of the country, the Federal Capital and the 774 local government areas of Nigeria. “We are committed to promoting community policing and assisting the Nigeria Police Force on crime control, prevention and protection of lives and properties.”
VGN Ondo State Commandant, Akinwunmi Gideon, said: “Of all Military and Para-Military organizations in Nigeria, VGN is the only one that has its men and officers emanating from, or permanently domiciled in their areas of operations. All others have their men posted outside their communities of origin.”
Lagos State Commandant, Otunba James Udoma added: “We therefore appeal to the President and the Federal Government to throw their weight behind the Vigilante Group of Nigeria’s Bill that is presently awaiting a third reading in the lower house of the National Assembly by giving it executive push to fast track the transformation of the VGN into a Federal Agency of Community Policing.”
