THE raging insecurity across the breadth and length of the country can be partly resolved through the implementation of grassroots measures different from the conventional approaches involving statutory security networks.
Stakeholders who appreciate the enormity of security threats in and around their areas are seeking novel ways to navigate the security challenges and their attendant loss of lives and property.
A week ago, the Aniocha North Local Government of Delta State inaugurated a body as a counter-attack against the menace of herdsmen, armed robbers, and other crimes that make residents to have sleepless nights.
Termed “security crack team”, the body, selected from members of the Anioma Security Network, Anti-Cult personnel, and existing vigilante groups in the area, is expected to work with the police and other security agencies in terms of exchange of intelligence and arrest of suspected criminals.
To demonstrate his avowed determination to end all forms of crimes and insecurity in the area, the Chairman of Aniocha North Local Government, Hon. Emma Chinye provided the team with the wherewithal for the prosecution of the fight against the criminal elements.
These include 30 motorcycles, five motor vehicles, and other security apparatus necessary for the execution of the mandate. The chairman assured the people that his administration has prioritized their safety and will ensure that those who cause sleepless nights to law-abiding citizens would be flushed out from the area.
The development in Aniocha North came on the heels of similar arrangements by chairmen of some local government areas in Delta State, who have synergized with traditional rulers and leaders of security agencies in their domain to mobilise indigenes to form neighbourhood watch.
The existing bodies in local councils such as Oshimili South, Aniocha South, Ika South, and Ukwuani local government shows the sensitivity of the grassroots leaders to the plight of their people.
So far in areas where these vigilante groups exist, cases of herdsmen attack and violent crimes are not too pronounced as the teams patrol known black spots and nip attempts by criminal elements to commit crimes.
For instance, the vigilante team at Abavo, Ika South local government area, recently, engaged suspected herdsmen that invaded a farmland in the area.
Although the criminals abducted a female farmer, members of the vigilante pursued them into the bush, but unfortunately the assailants laid siege on the vigilantes which resulted to injuries sustained by the vigilante group.
It is however important to point out that before now the criminals were having a field day operating without any resistance from the people.
Therefore, the constitution and empowerment of local vigilantes in Aniocha North and other local government areas of Delta State to combat increasing criminal activities is a welcome move. We therefore commend the chairmen, traditional rulers, opinion leaders, community leaders, and other stakeholders for the unity of purpose that produced the initiative.
The task before the body is enormous considering the prevailing cases of illegal and hard drug use that had lured some youths into kidnap, rape, armed robbery, ritual killings, cultism, assassination and similar crimes. Related to the growing crimes is the problem of herdsmen who engage in both kidnapping and attacking innocent farmers on their farms.
However, the authority must be courageous to sustain the vigilantes through incentives and empowerment. All necessary crime-fighting equipment for better policing of the communities and bushes, especially mobility, drones, tracking systems, CCTV, and uniforms should be provided to encourage the men.
There is also the need for continuous training of the task force members to acquaint them with the rules of engagement. This demands that they collaborate with security agents, other vigilante groups, and statutory security bodies with a view to enhancing their knowledge of operational limits.
Besides, they must avoid using their position and uniforms to exact vendetta or settle old scores. They should not operate detention camps or detain suspects at all but must hand them over to the police, and respect the prescribed traditional authority of the area of operation.
We urge all local governments in the state to rise to this demand and set up similar bodies to tackle crimes in their domains. Doing so will complement the state government’s efforts at making our state safe. It’s a task that everyone should contribute as we seek a peaceful state that will attract investments.
