The Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) has unveiled a new security strategy aimed at strengthening grassroots intelligence gathering and supporting conventional security agencies in maintaining peace before, during and after the 2027 general elections.
The new Commandant-General of the VGN, Otunba James Udoma, disclosed this while outlining his administration’s strategic vision for the organisation and its role in combating insecurity across communities and villages nationwide.
Udoma said the strategy would strengthen the VGN’s capacity to provide timely and credible intelligence to relevant security agencies while helping to protect lives and property beyond the election period.
He said his assumption of office presented an opportunity to articulate a renewed vision for the organisation, particularly as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 elections.
According to him, the VGN’s greatest strength lies in its grassroots presence and proximity to communities across the country.
“The Vigilante Group of Nigeria is a grassroots and community-based security organisation with a presence and network that extend into communities across the country. Our greatest strength is our proximity to the people,” he said.
Udoma said his administration would strengthen the organisation’s information network across states, local government areas, wards and communities to ensure that relevant security information reaches the appropriate authorities promptly.
He said the process would be guided by accuracy, verification, confidentiality, timeliness, professional reporting, respect for the law and protection of fundamental human rights.
The Commandant-General noted that VGN members, who live and work within communities, understand local environments, social relationships, movement patterns and emerging security concerns.
He said such community-level knowledge, when properly organised and professionally coordinated, could provide valuable early-warning information to conventional security agencies.
Udoma stressed that the VGN would complement rather than compete with Nigeria’s statutory security institutions.
“We will continue to respect the constitutional and statutory responsibilities of the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, DSS, NSCDC and other authorised security institutions,” he said.
He explained that the VGN’s role would focus on lawful community engagement, information gathering, early warning, crime prevention, public enlightenment and prompt referral of security information to the appropriate authorities.
VGN to Intensify Training
Udoma said the organisation would also intensify training for its members in areas critical to effective community-based security.
The training, he said, would cover community policing principles, intelligence and information gathering, early-warning systems, conflict prevention and de-escalation, human rights, civic responsibilities and election-related security awareness.
Other areas include emergency response, first aid, communication and reporting, ethics and discipline, as well as inter-agency cooperation.
He said the initiative was part of efforts to usher in a new era of discipline, professionalism, intelligence-led community engagement, accountability and cooperation within the VGN.
According to him, the 2027 election security strategy is not intended to replace the Armed Forces, Police, DSS, NSCDC or other statutory security institutions.
Rather, he said, it would ensure that the VGN’s grassroots presence becomes an additional and responsible source of early-warning information and community support within the national security architecture.
“Our commitment is therefore clear: Observe. Report. Prevent. Support. Protect within the law,” Udoma said.
He urged VGN commanders and members across the country to embrace the new direction and maintain professionalism in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The VGN chief also called on the media to partner with the organisation in promoting public confidence and responsible security awareness.
He further urged sister security agencies to strengthen cooperation with the VGN where appropriate and lawful, while calling on Nigerians to regard peace, security and national unity as a shared responsibility.
“The Vigilante Group of Nigeria stands ready to contribute its strength, experience and grassroots reach to the collective effort to keep Nigeria safe.
“We shall support the security agencies and strengthen community intelligence. We shall protect peaceful communities. We shall respect the law and we shall put Nigeria first,” Udoma added.
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