A concerned socio-cultural group has called on Igbo communities to establish local vigilante teams to respond to rising security challenges in the region. The group said recent incidents of violence, kidnappings, and criminal attacks have created fear among residents, making community-led security efforts more necessary than ever. They stressed that relying only on government security agencies is no longer enough.

According to the group, the proposed vigilante structure would work closely with local leaders, traditional rulers, and security operatives to gather intelligence and prevent attacks. They emphasized that such community involvement plays a major role in early detection of threats. The group noted that having trusted local volunteers improves response time and boosts residents’ confidence.

The group also encouraged community members to support legitimate security efforts by reporting suspicious movements and avoiding collaboration with criminals. They explained that safety is a shared responsibility and every resident has a role to play in protecting lives and property. Strengthening unity within communities, they added, will help reduce tension and increase cooperation.

While pushing for these vigilante units, the group made it clear that the operations must remain lawful and accountable. They urged local leaders to ensure that volunteers are properly trained and monitored to avoid abuse of power. According to them, effective community policing can only succeed when structured, disciplined, and aligned with official security frameworks.