Mr. Usman Tilli Abubakar, the Abia state police commissioner, has noted the need for collaboration between security agencies and recognized vigilante groups in Abia state, maintaining that such coordination would help to effectively tackle security challenges in the state.
CP Abubakar stated this yesterday when he received members of Abia State Vigilante Group who visited him in his office in Umuahia. He said that effective collaboration among security organisations was necessary for effective crime fighting in the state.
Receiving the visitors, the Police Commissioner said their visit was a sign that the vigilante group was ready to join forces with the police in tackling security challenges in the state.
He also declared his readiness to partner with the vigilante group and other bodies to ensure that security of lives and property of Abia residents.
“Though your work is voluntary, you have demonstrated that you are willing to partner in securing lives and property in Abia state.
“I expect that members of Abia State Vigilante Group join the police in night patrols so as to ensure that criminals are checkmated’’, Abubakar suggested.
Abubakar however advised the leadership of Abia State Vigilante Group to ensure that it recruits people with good characters, because “some bad eggs always want to take advantage of uniform organisations to commit crimes’’.
He also advised the leadership of the group to regularly monitor the activities of its men to ensure that the good intention of government in establishing the outfits was not flouted.
Earlier in his remarks, the state Commander-General of Abia State Vigilante Group, Mr. Martins Idika, explained that their visit was to welcome Abubakar who assumed office recently to Abia state and to express their readiness to partner with the Police.
He said that the group was willing to collaborate with other security agencies to ensure that Abia maintains its status as one of the most peaceful states in the country.
