Security Improves As Police Boss Collaborates With Local Vigilantes

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

It appeared that the security situation has improved as the Nigeria Police collaborates with some vigilante groups to combat crimes in Lagos.

This was declared by the Lagos police boss and Commissioner of Police, Mr Imohimi Edgar who confirmed the collaboration during the stakeholders meeting held in Alimosho Local Government Area.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that some of the vigilante working with police are the Vigilant Group of Nigeria, VGN, Neighbourhood Watch, Odua’ Peoples Congress, OPC and others. The police boss while acknowledging his willingness to work with some of the vigilantes, he however said that he will not condone any operating with impunity in the state.

Edgar warned the groups that they must subject themselves for proper scrutiny to the police authority through the Divisional Police Officers, DPOs and Area Commanders. He also warned them that they must not be found with illegal arms and threatened to arrest and prosecute any of them found with arms because they were not trained and authorised to do so.

He directed them to work in the area of intelligence gathering and information dissemination to the Police for effective management of the crimes in the state. P.M.EXPRESS learnt that since Edgar gave the approval and directives, the groups have been providing the police with the necessary information to arrest suspected criminals in some areas of the state.

The Area Commander, VGN, Alimosho Local government, Mr  Julius Nnamere confirmed the development and said it was a right step taken by the Police.
Nnamere noted  that there has been tremendous improvement in the area of detecting and combating crimes in the state due to the decision taken by the Lagos CP.

He mentioned an instance where his men rescued seven kidnapped victims and recovered some arms at Igando/Ojo areas due to the encouragement by the police unlike before. Nnamere noted that the vigilantes will make the police work much easier because those vigilante members live among the people in a community and can easily know criminals and inform the police.

However, some of the vigilante officers were still having issues on how to cope with the enormous task of assisting the police to combat crimes. P.M.EXPRESS gathered that there was no provision yet for funding their activities and so they have to finance their activities by themselves which seem to reduce their motivation in assisting the police to protect lives and properties in the State.