The Chairman, Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase, has stated that the police and other security agencies lack the numerical strength to dominate the country’s security space.
He made this known while speaking with journalists during the Vigilante Group of Nigeria’s national conference with the theme: ‘Mobilising VGN Members for Improved Security in Schools, Farmlands and Roads’ in Abuja on Tuesday.
Arase, who was a former Inspector-General of Police, IGP, emphasized the necessity to develop a comprehensive plan to collaborate with volunteers effectively.
He insisted that security is everyone’s business, including the journalists.
“When criminals want to commit a crime, they will go on surveillance and if you see the vigilante, either in the community or on the highway, it is already a deterrent.
“All we have to do is to harness their numeric strength, their spread and leadership to deal with issues of insecurity,” he said.
Also speaking, Navy Commander, Umar Bakori (retd.), who is the Commander-General of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, VGN, called for the passage of the bill establishing the group.
He added that “mobilizing our vigilant members will help create a strong presence of security and deter potential threats, thus fostering an environment conducive to economic growth and social harmony.”