Well organized vigilante service can solve problem of insecurity in Anambra - Moghalu

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By Madu Obi

Governorship aspirant of the Labour Party, LP, for the November election in Anambra State, Chief George Moghalu has said that the problem of insecurity in the state could be decisively solved if the local vigilante groups in the various communities are adequately funded.

Addressing reporters in Nnewi, Moghalu listed what he would do to make the state secure if elected the governor of the state later this year.

He said: "Since the issue of state police has not been effectively addressed, what is wrong in organizing village vigilates in the various local government areas? There is need to document, identify, train, equip, remunerate them well and set them against the bandits.

Why can't we provide security infrastructure in such a way that even university graduates can apply to become members of vigilante outfits and train them properly in the use of firearms and get the police involved in their activities.

All the local governments should be linked with radio services and vehicles provided for security agencies. Any amount spent by the state on security is justified because the truth about it is that we can't talk of investment if the state is not safe, as no sane person will want to invest in an unsafe environment.

Organizing investment summits without effective security arrangements is a complete waste of time and resources because the targeted investors will not come. Anambra has a large number of entrepreneurs, but they are all running away from the state because of insecurity.

Our big men no longer come home and the major losers are our people who usually benefit when such people visit home and gift them a lot of things.

This state has retired soldiers and policemen who can lend us their knowledge and experience for the benefit of the state.

We will also encourage communities to be proactive on the issue of security. The truth is that every community knows the bad eggs among them and we will encourage the communities to be part of the efforts to secure their environment by strengthening the vigilante groups. Traditional institutions will also be encouraged to contribute to security.

Unfortunately, we are in an era where the state governments take all the money that belongs to the local government areas and the chairmen go to the governors to beg for the money that statutorily belongs to them.

So how do we expect the council chairmen to perform their civic responsibilities to their people, especially in the area of security?"

On the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, which many believe is responsible for security challenges in the South East, Moghalu appealed to the Federal Government to adopt a political solution to Kanu’s issue and get him released.

“I have prayed and begged for the release of Kanu. Political solution will be the most appropriate measure. There is so much anger in the polity, but killing ourselves just to make a point is not acceptable," he said.