By Joshua Egbodo
Abuja
Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as well other security stakeholders have expressed support for a Bill seeking the establishment of a National Vigilante Service in Nigeria.
To be known as the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), when established, the stakeholders at a public hearing on the Bill, yesterday said it was good “because their operational bases are usually the grassroots where conventional security agencies’ presence is minimal, and in most cases, null.”
Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, who was represented by Col. S. Nicodemus at the hearing, in his submissions, said the creation of the vigilante body through a legislative framework would go a long way to reducing incidents of crimes in all parts of the country.
Also speaking, the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu, said his endorsement of the bill was for legitimisation of the activities of vigilantes in Nigeria, especially in view of the doggedness the initiators and personnel had shown in protecting lives and property.
The Commandant, who was represented by Obiekwe Austine, urged the lawmakers to take a critical look at the provisions of the constitution to see that VGN functions were ethical and conformed to cultural and tribal practices.
National Commandant, War Against Indiscipline (WAI), Mohammed Mustapha, stated in his presentation that members of VGN were in every community in Nigeria, discharging voluntary services, and appealed to lawmakers to therefore pass Bill to give legal creation to the group.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Haliru Jika, earlier in his remarks, commended sponsor of the Bill, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, and the VGN which he said had assembled about 30,000 members to complement the efforts of security agencies, pledging the parliament’s all possible support to get the Bill passed.
