Insecurity: 296 Osun Vigilantes Get Training On Intelligence

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

No fewer than 296 members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), Osun state chapter, have undergone special training on intelligence in order to complement the efforts being made by other security agencies in tackling crime in the state.

This was made known by the state commander of the Vigilantes, Bello Wasiu Aderemi, at the passing out parade of the VGN at the Western University, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun state, at the weekend.

The commander remarked that the members were trained in different aspect of basic and intelligence skills by the police.

According to him, the five days training was a morale booster to his members as it afforded them with new knowledge to improve their skills on intelligence- gathering and other skill needed to tackle criminal activities such as bandits and kidnapping , raping, armed robbery among others.

He said the training which is organized by VGN in collaboration with Institute of Corporate Security and Intelligence Studies, Counter Terrorism/Operational Department Training was conducted simultaneously in all the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

The commander was optimistic that his members would put into use what they had learnt for the benefit of the society.

He said the group main objective “is to prevent the escalation of crime which has now become the order of the day.”

“Cases such as cattle rustling, rape and kidnapping, armed robbery, are on the increase and we must put all hands together towards its prevention,” he said.

He appreciated all the members who deemed it necessary to take part in the training as well as those who have been captured just as he urged other members yet to be captured to do so, saying only the captured members will entitle to service number.

He enjoined all the members of the group to work hand in hand with other security agencies to jointly combat crime in the state.

Echoing a similar view, South West Commandant, Mr Jimoh Olawale, said the training becomes imperative for members to be able to know how to handle terrorism, kidnapping , violence and crimes in their immediate environment

He expressed hope that “very soon crime rate will drop as all necessary measures are being put in place by the present government to ensure that the state is safe.”

Speaking at the occasion, Prof L.I Arotiba , Acting Registrar, South Western University, Okun Owa decried the high rate of crimes in Nigeria and the need for all and sundry to take the issue of security as matter of importance.

Arotiba who delivered paper on the topic “Influence of Banditry and Kidnapping Within Our Community: The Role of Vigilante Group of Nigeria” said Nigeria was globally declared as one of the horrible country in the world because of the widespread of corruption, injustice, violence and lack of security that expose many innocent lives to end up in the hitch of kidnappers.

Commending the Vigilante group of Nigeria, the Registrar said the proliferation of Vigilante groups I contemporary Nigeria particularly in South West, South East and other part of Nigeria is a response to crimes criminality that have not only increased in degree, scope and volume but also have witnessed an unprecedented change in techniques, mode of operation and sophisticated between 1998 and 1999 and apparent failure of the Nigeria police to rise up to the occasion.