By Baron Ike
The Senator representing Anambra Central, Victor Umeh has appealed to the Inspector General, of Police, Ibrahim Idris not to distabilise the peace that is now prevalent in the state with his plan to withdraw small arms in the hands of the state’s Vigilance Group.
Umeh was speaking on the floor of the Senate where he pleaded with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki to help the people of Anambra to tell Idris that the state has enjoyed the services of Vigilance Group for more than nine years now that any attempt to disorganise the structure would cause tension and the return of insecurity in Anambra.
Umeh said the crises which some states are having with their vigilance groups were probably because of lack of understanding of how they ought to work, and suggested that Anambra Vigilance Group remains a template that other states can emulate.
Umeh recalled that the headship of the Vigilance Group in Anambra is by a retired Commissioner of Police whose efforts are complemented by equally competent retired officers versed in the security architecture that understands the import of law and order in a complex society like ours.
Said Umeh: “The good people of Anambra State are not comfortable with the recent order to withdraw the small arms in the custody of the vigilante men.
“Today Anambra State is referred as the safest state in Nigeria; before it was notoriously unsafe.
“These Vigilante people have complemented the efforts of the conventional security forces in combating crime.
“It is important while we condemn vigilante in some state; we have to commend the use of vigilante in places where it has worked effectively, like in my own state (Anambra).
“My people want these vigilante services in Anambra State. Indeed if you dispense with vigilante services in Anambra State, the state of insecurity will return and our people are very anxious about it.
“I want to use this opportunity to ask the Inspector-General of Police to leave Anambra State alone. That state is very peaceful, very safe and the safest state in Nigeria.”