Vigilante boss urges FG to equip members to reduce battlefield losses

The Commandant-General of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, James Udoma.

The Commandant-General of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, James Udoma, has urged the Federal Government to provide adequate equipment and operational tools for members of the organisation to reduce casualties among its personnel deployed to combat insecurity.

Udoma lamented that many VGN members had been lost because they were often deployed to the frontlines of security operations without adequate equipment and kits.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Udoma said the group had trained its personnel in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force and profiled them for deployment, making it necessary for the government to support them with the required tools.

“We are losing most of our men across the country daily because they are mostly in the front battle to secure Nigeria without proper kits and equipment. The Vigilante Group of Nigeria remains deeply passionate about this mission.

“Now, as Commander General, I am calling on the Federal Government to fulfil its responsibility by equipping and kitting our personnel. Our officers have been properly profiled and trained by the Nigerian Police Force before deployment.

“Within the northern states, I will thank most of the governors who have come on board to equip our men, and our men are delivering,” he said.

Udoma expressed confidence in the capacity of the VGN to contribute to the fight against insurgency and other forms of criminality when adequately supported.

“We have what it takes to stop insurgency in Nigeria. We have what it takes to stop criminality in Nigeria. We have the men, we have the resources. We are to support the security agencies in making sure we keep Nigeria safe,” he said.

On the reported factionalisation within the organisation, the VGN boss said he had established a committee to engage aggrieved members and work towards resolving differences within the organisation.

Udoma also unveiled a 2027 Election Security Support and Community Intelligence Framework aimed at strengthening grassroots intelligence gathering before, during and after the general elections.

He said the framework would focus on early warning, identification of potential flashpoints and prompt transmission of credible information to conventional security agencies.

The Commandant-General stressed that VGN would complement rather than compete with statutory security agencies, including the Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

He further pledged zero tolerance for indiscipline, impersonation, extortion, harassment, intimidation and abuse of authority by VGN personnel.

“Anyone wearing the uniform of VGN must understand that the uniform represents responsibility,” he said, warning that members who acted outside their lawful mandate would face disciplinary measures.

The call comes against the backdrop of heavy casualties suffered by vigilante groups in attacks by bandits.

The European Union Agency for Asylum, in its assessment of the security situation in Nigeria, said vigilante groups had suffered “heavy losses” in bandit attacks. It cited, among other incidents, the July 2025 attack in Plateau State in which more than 70 vigilantes were killed.