Audu Okwutaojo, Jos
The Executive Chairman of Langtang North Local Government Area Hon. Ubandoma Joshua Laven has been decorated as State Patron of Vigilante Group of Nigeria VGN.
Laven who spoke shortly after his decoration at the council’s secreteriat in Langtang North at the weekend said peace, security and well being of Nigerians remains paramount and a panacea for economic and political development of the country.
The Langtang North Chairman also called for adequate support to all other volunteer security outfits to rid the society of criminal elements.
Ubandoma stressed that vigilante groups should be permitted by Federal Government to carry small arms so that they can effectively police their environment.
Acccording to him, “Vigilante security outfits can not go after kidnappers and bandits with bare hands as doing so will endanger their lives in their line of duties.”
He noted that there is urgent need for government at the three tiers to support the vigilante group of Nigeria by training and empowering them to support the fight against crimes such as armed Robbery, Banditry, kidnapping and all forms of anti-social behaviours in the society.
“It is no longer news that the capacity of the Nigerian Police today can not curtail the rising trend of criminal violence in the society, hence the need for community policing like the vigilante group of Nigeria VGN”.
He added that ” I make bold to say that the vigilante groups are more closer to the communities and if properly engaged, they can contribute in addressing the overwhelming security challenges bedevilling the Nation”
Acccording Langtang North LG Chairman, experience has shown in recent times how vigilante groups as security outfit mostly comprises of volunteers, operating under the mandate of community consensus to fight crime, have recorded huge successes .
He advised Nigerians to communally police their environment to compliment the efforts of other security agencies in the fight against the menance of bandit and kidnapping that has now become a lucrative business in the country.
Also speaking, the admin commander of vigilante group of Nigeria , Plateau State command Abubakar Sadiq said the chairman was chosen from among many others to be their Patron because of his contribution to the growth and development of his immediate community .
According to him, to whom much is given, much is expected from him, pointing out that, he is confident that the Chairman will do better that he has done before in the area of securing lives and property in Langtang North LGA of Plateau to state .
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