By Peter Usman
Abuja ( Nigeria )- Abia state commandant of vigilante group, Rev. Ede Emmanuel Edwin has said that the major work of vigilante in the state is to give intelligent information to the Police, Army, Navy, Air force and Civil Defence so that they can act on it.
He explained that vigilantes are not armed neither are they allowed to carry out any operation like other security agencies in the country.
Edwin, who stated this in an interview with newsmen in Umahia, South East of the country, said that their men are in all nooks and crannies of the state for the purpose of giving information of any pending danger to the law enforcement agencies that have been licensed to arrest criminals.
According to him, “We don’t have arms so we can’t do anything other than to give information to law enforcement agencies. However, our men are all over the state; all the local government and every nook and cranny of the state. We cover the whole places as we give information of any pending danger to Police and others and I am assuring you that this we are doing efficiently.”
“I believe that intelligence is the best weapon and we have intelligent, smart and vibrant men. We have been working with other security agencies and even the police are happy with what we have been doing in the state as regard to security. One day while we were with the DPO, he confided in us that without our men, they can’t achieve what they had achieved. We have been trying our best to help them succeed.”.
Rev. Edwin asserted that Abia state may not be the best in terms of security in the country, neither is it the worst in security wise, adding that the governor has done a lot to ensure that the state is secured as crime rate in the state has reduced to the barest minimum.
“You know, you can’t eliminate it entirely, but as I am talking to you now, no more kidnapping, no ritual killing, no stealing and the rest as it used to be in the past. The people can sleep with their eyes closed and go about their various jobs happily. I think the Governor and security agencies have tried a lot and the need to be commended”
While fielding questions on the strength of the vigilante in Abia state, Rev. Edwin revealed that they have about fifteen thousand staff in the state, stating that his men have been working together in unity, which he said has made them to achieve what they have achieved so far.
https://www.africaprimenews.com/2018/01/26/crime/nigeria-i-will-make-kaduna-no-go-area-for-kidnappers-police-chief-vows/
