Obasanjo supports legal backing for vigilante group

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NIGERIA: EX-PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo has canvassed for the legislation of the vigilante group in order to be more effective as a para-military unit in the country.

Obasanjo, who said on Monday that he embraced the significance of vigilante group in the provision of adequate security in the country, stressed that the security outfit would help in maintaining peace and order in the communities.

The former President made these known when the leadership of Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) paid him a courtesy call at his Presidential Hilltop residence in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

He said: “For me I don’t see any major problem in vigilante group being legislated, formalised because it will help you to function properly, it helps the communities in which you are to work.”

Obasanjo counselled the members of the team that, if eventually legalised, they must realise the importance of effectiveness, competence and honest, and the need to respect human rights.

“The point I’m trying to make is that in a country of 1.8 million people, you will have number of diverse security apparatus,” the ex-President said, adding: “The more organised the better for the community they are to work with.”

Obasanjo expressed optimism that the bill on the group for a legal backing would scale the final hurdle at the National Assembly.

He stated that there must also be a code of conduct for moderation of their activities while advising them to also embark on training of their personnel.

“There must be code of conduct; above board there must be training how to respect people you are supposed to protect.  You need standardized training, components of civil defence in your training will be advantageous,” the former President added.

He advised that the group must ensure that their men go through military or police training to make their activities more effective and efficient when they begin full operations in the society.

The Chief of Staff to the Commander-General, Jimoh Aliu, who led the group, had earlier presented a letter to Obasanjo asking for his assistance and support on the statutory establishment of the body as one of the para-military organisations in the country.

The four-page letter, signed by Aliu, stated that the numerical strength of membership was overwhelming, adding that the vigilante as a voluntary organisation since 1983 has been performing creditably well.

He said: “Sir, I seize this opportunity to seek for your assistance and support to use your good offices as father of all and approach the National Assembly to pass the establishment bill of Vigilante Group of Nigeria.”

Aliu told the ex-President that legalising the group will also alleviate poverty and create more employment for the youths and other people, especially the retired security personnel who are still agile to serve the country.

The Chief of Staff said: “Nigeria’s population is about 170 million people while the population of all the military, police and para-military agencies are less than 30 million serving officers out of the aforementioned population of Nigeria.”

“It is, however, an issue of concern that these security men are too lesser to secure the lives and properties of 170 million people, but if this group, VGN, is approved by the Federal Government, the organisation will complement the efforts of other security agencies for securing the lives and properties and to curb crimes and other social vices in our country,” Aliu stressed.