Traditional ruler canvasses proper screening, training of vigilantes

The Enogie of Eyaen Community in Uhunmwode Council of Edo State, HRH Osazuwa Aiweirioghene Iduriase, has canvassed adequate training for persons recruited into vigilance groups in the country.

He stressed the need for state governments to conduct proper screenings to ascertain the mental state of individuals recruited as vigilantes to avoid engaging misfits in the groups.

Iduriase gave the charge when an executive of the Edo State Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) visited him in his palace.

His words: “Well it is like everybody has to wake up because this time around we don’t sleep with our two eyes close. I believe that we need to support security agencies by giving them the necessary information on what is going on in our areas.

“As much as I thank the Federal and state governments for introducing vigilance groups for security purposes, they should carry the traditional rulers along.”

He said not all the recruited personnel were vigilantes, insisting that recruiting members into the vigilance groups without appropriate screening was dangerous.

“Members of the vigilance groups ought to have letters of surety or recommended by traditional rulers, village or community heads to divisional police officers (DPOs), area commanders or commissioners of police (CPs) for appropriate documentation and recommendation.

“Before I recommend anyone to be recruited into the vigilance group, I must know the person’s background and history. If a vigilante happens to commit a crime, he can easily be traced. Bringing anybody to the towns in the name of security is not safe for the people.

“So, I advise and appeal to the state government and law enforcement agencies to watch carefully before any vigilance member can be allowed to carry gun.”

However, with the help of vigilantes, we are witnessing a reduction in insecurity in the state.

“I urge the authorities to work on that properly because some activities of vigilantes are appalling, and with their antecedents, most of the people in the communities are scared,” he stated.

Earlier, Chairman of the Chapel, Mrs. Nefishetu Yakubu, commended the Enogie for the prevailing peace and job creation initiative in his domain.