The Taraba State Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), Jalingo LGA Command in Taraba State says it has grown from a group that used to deal with pickpockets, petty thieves, and burglars to actively involved in combating armed robbers, Kidnappers, and other dangerous crimes in the state.
The Local Government Commander, Munir Bello stated this in an address at the One-day Refresher Training organized for units ward and local government Commandants Exco on Leadership and Operation held at the Taraba State Polytechnic Jalingo.
Bello noted that the VGN is poised to continue to combat crime in the communities through constant surveillance and monitoring of activities within the Communities in and around Jalingo, the capital city.
“We are now an important and integral part of the security of Jalingo and the surrounding communities. This training is aimed at helping us keep in pace with the development in the field as well as improve our efficiency,” he said.
Commander Munir Bello explained that the VGN is a voluntary Non-Governmental Organisation whose members are committed to providing security for members of the community free of charge through its involvement in patrolling streets, and neighborhoods to forestall breakdown of order, apprehending and handing over to other security agencies.
The LG Commandant attributed their inability for a quick response when they are called upon in case of any emergencies to lack of mobility, and appealed to the Taraba State Government and other wealthy individuals in the society to assist them to enable them to continue providing security in and around the state capital.
“We are appealing to everyone to assist us to get mobility, it could be motorcycles, patrol vehicles, cash, nothing will be too little to support our quest to secure Jalingo and its surrounding communities” Bello added.
Munir Bello, however, warned members of the group not to allow themselves to be influenced by politicians in the forthcoming general elections as is often the case before now.
“We undertake training programs for all members in all cadres regularly, especially with Institute Cooperate Security and Intelligence Studies by the Nigeria Police on Community Policing and Intelligent gathering at the Police College Bauchi, Special Tactical Squad Training (STS) at citizen and leadership center Abuja among others with the view to improve our efficiency. He added.
According to the Commandant, the VGN in Jalingo LG has come a long way from when it was “Kungiyar Banga” and later “Kungiyar’Yan Sintiri” with a membership of 1,883 comprising males and females today they have about 54 units, 10 wards, and LG Exco with a total strength of 36 female.
Papers were presented on topics such as Fundamental Human Rights, by Mr. Bala Ambitumi, and Leadership/Discipline, by Asv. Daniel Comos, Gender-Based Violence/Conflict Resolution, by Mr. Victor Kamai, Child Safeguarding, by Asv. Emmanuel Mini and Community Policing/Neighborhood Crime, by Kamaluddeen Soje.
Others are Mr. Aminu Ibrahim who presented a paper on Intelligence gathering, Yunusa Jibrin spoke on Operations as well Mohammed Aminu that made a presentation on VGN Code among others.
Sani Sulaiman
