Taraba Vigilante Commandant Seeks Integration Into Security System

Taraba State commandant of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), Bello Arabi, has cautioned against the proposed establishment of state police.

He warned that the initiative could be compromised by ethnic, religious and political interests if not properly structured.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP in an exclusive Interview in Jalingo, on the growing national agitation for state policing, Arabi urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and other stakeholders to prioritise strengthening existing community-based security structures, particularly the vigilante system, rather than creating entirely new outfits.

According to him, the Vigilante Group of Nigeria not only understands the terrain of communities across the country but also holds the key to effective local security.

He therefore further called on the federal and state governments to strengthen community vigilante structures and grant them operational independence, as their personnel already possessed the capacity to deliver services envisioned under state policing.

The commandant also sought legal backing and the support of state governors and other stakeholders to prioritise and formalise the Vigilante Group as a viable alternative to state police, given its longstanding role in maintaining grassroots security.

He argued that while the idea of state police may be long overdue given Nigeria’s growing population and security challenges, handing full control of such forces to state governments could pose serious risks to national security.

According to him, “granting absolute control of security to states may be disastrous, especially where ethnic and religious sentiments influence leadership decisions.”

The State VGN boss expressed concern over the increasing use of ethnicity and religion to fuel division and conflict within communities, noting that such tendencies could undermine the neutrality required for effective policing at the state level.

Highlighting the contributions of the Vigilante Group, he said the organisation has, for decades, complemented the efforts of conventional security agencies, particularly in rural communities and in the areas prone to insurgency in the north east.

He noted that vigilante operatives possess deep knowledge of local terrain and can easily identify suspicious movements or unfamiliar persons, making them critical to intelligence gathering and crime prevention.

“In the North-East, where insecurity has been overwhelming, the role of vigilante groups cannot be overemphasised.

Many of our personnel have paid the ultimate price while working alongside the military, police and civil defence,” he said.

The commandant maintained that, given its track record, the VGN should be considered as a foundation for any state policing structure, rather than being sidelined.

He called for the formal integration of vigilante groups into the security architecture through legislative backing, proper regulation and adequate funding, stressing that this would enhance their effectiveness and accountability.

“All that is required is a legal framework, strict recruitment standards and adherence to the rule of law to ensure that only credible individuals are enlisted,” he added.

He further emphasised that, membership of the VGN has traditionally been based on integrity and community trust, with recruits required to have clean records and no history of criminal activity.

While acknowledging the sacrifices made by vigilante operatives across the country, many of whom have died in active service without compensation, the commandant described it as unfair for government to overlook their contributions in the ongoing security reforms.

He also called for a transparent, merit-based recruitment process in any future policing structure, free from political, ethnic or religious bias.

“The issue of security must be handled with utmost neutrality. Politics should be kept out of it for the sake of national stability,” he said.