Security challenges are a daily concern in Nigeria and across the world, as crimes such as armed robberies, terrorism, banditry, and online fraud continue to gain prominence in our communities. These threats are no longer distant or abstract; they are embedded in our neighborhoods, threatening livelihoods and shaking the foundations of trust between citizens and the state.
Recently, a chilling incident brought these challenges into sharp focus. Itinerant hunters from Kano State, who had traveled to Uromi in Edo State, were gruesomely killed by members of a local vigilante group. Predictably, the event sparked nationwide outrage. Thankfully, the crisis was quickly contained by the authorities before it could spiral into further violence. But the damage had already been done.
This was a clear case of mistaken identity taken too far. The hunters were allegedly profiled as bandits or Boko Haram fighters and summarily executed. One wonders: Why did the vigilante group not simply detain them and hand them over to the police for investigation? Who gave the order to kill? Where was the oversight? Is Uromi fast becoming one of Nigeria’s many ungoverned spaces, where the rule of law is weak or absent?
The incident raises disturbing questions about how vigilante groups operate in this country and whether some are becoming a law unto themselves. While the existence of community-based security groups is not inherently negative, what happens when they begin to act with impunity, outside the boundaries of the law? What happens when they misfire, misjudge, and kill the innocent?
Across the country, there have been pockets of sporadic violence unleashed on innocent persons by overzealous vigilante groups. These incidents are often the result of poor intelligence, profiling, and uncontrolled aggression, all in the name of protecting communities. In many cases, these groups have become judge, jury, and executioner. This is a dangerous trend that must be halted.
The federal government must urgently coordinate and regulate the activities of all vigilante groups under a unified, professional, and disciplined command and control structure. It is no longer enough to look the other way or offer verbal condemnations after tragedies occur. Nigeria cannot afford to outsource law enforcement to untrained, unmonitored militias operating under the cover of community protection.
Regional outfits such as Ebube Agu in the southeast, the Amotekun Corps in the southwest, and religious enforcement bodies like the Hisbah police in parts of the north must all be brought under one national framework. These groups must be answerable to constituted federal authorities, not regional or political interests.
They must also be trained in the responsible use of force, rules of engagement, conflict de-escalation, and intelligence gathering. Without these essentials, we risk turning well-meaning security initiatives into loose cannons, and the line between protector and aggressor becomes dangerously blurred.
Granted, Nigeria has vast, ungoverned spaces that overstretch our security agencies. In these areas, voluntary efforts have sprung up to help fill the vacuum. But the absence of state control does not mean the absence of accountability. These volunteer groups must not be left to operate on their own terms, without regulation or standard operating procedures. Doing so opens the door to abuse, violence, and tragic errors like the one in Uromi.
Even more disturbing is the continuing underfunding of the police, who should form the first layer of security in any functioning society. While Nigeria’s defence budget continues to rise, the police remain grossly neglected. According to Simon Okeke, former chairman of the Police Service Commission, only 200 thousand naira is budgeted for each state police command. That figure is not just inadequate; it is insulting.
Mr. Okeke recently expressed concern during an interview on Channels Television, lamenting the poor welfare and lack of equipment available to police officers. His concerns are valid and widely echoed. You cannot expect professionalism from a force that is poorly trained, ill-equipped, and demoralized.
Our defence policy must be completely overhauled to reflect present-day realities. These are difficult times that demand faster, smarter, and more coordinated responses to evolving security threats. There is a pressing need for greater synergy within the security community. Inter-agency rivalries, bureaucratic power struggles, and turf wars among heads of security agencies must come to an end. Unity of purpose is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity.
The recent gains recorded at the frontlines were made possible through increased budgetary allocations and the procurement of modern equipment. To sustain and expand those gains, we must scale up intelligence gathering, invest in surveillance infrastructure, and deploy more efficient and sophisticated drones to reduce risk to personnel and improve field responses.
Meanwhile, the emergence of hostile military regimes in Niger and other ECOWAS countries is a serious setback for regional stability. No country can afford to go it alone. The cross-border threats posed by terrorists, arms smugglers, and mercenaries are growing stronger. Without regional cooperation, we risk losing the fragile progress we have made in the fight against terror. West Africa needs a united, cohesive front now more than ever.
The consequences of inaction are clear. If we fail to reform and empower our security architecture especially at the grassroots level we will continue to see the rise of self-help justice, tragic killings, and a further erosion of public trust. A nation where people fear both criminals and those who are supposed to protect them is skating on thin ice.
It is time for bold leadership, comprehensive reform, and a new security doctrine that prioritizes professionalism, unity, accountability, and the sanctity of human life. Anything less is a betrayal of the social contract and a danger to national stability.
Ladi Ayodeji is an author, counselor and speaker. He can be reached on 09059243004(sms only).
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