The Imo State House of Assembly has passed into law a bill for the amendment of the State Security Organization, IMSO, Law No. 2 of 2021 in order to create room for the inclusion of the vigilante group as part of the security agencies in the state.
Presenting the bill before his colleagues, the Majority Leader of the House, Kanayo Onyemaechi, also the member representing Owerri West Constituency, said that the amendment of the law became necessary following the high rate of insecurity being recorded in the state, especially within the rural areas.
He also pointed out that the failure to capture the vigilante group as part and parcel of the State Security Organization Law established in 2021 was another major reason for the amendment.
The Majority Leader maintained that the non-inclusion of the vigilante group in that law created a security breach in the rural areas that lack immediate response whenever security challenges arise.
Onyemaechi informed the House that vigilante groups, which are recruited within their immediate environment, will be able to easily identify any security breach or criminal activity that may arise within their localities.
He added that including the vigilante outfit as part of the security agencies will go a long way in curbing insecurity in the state.
Stating the operation of the vigilante group, the Majority Leader maintained that the group will work in synergy with regular security agencies by assisting in fishing out criminal elements.
Onyemaechi further maintained that the passage of the bill will give impetus to the recent order from the state governor to all stakeholders, including the LGA chairmen, traditional rulers, and president-generals, to stamp out every form of insecurity in their respective domains.
He also hinted that with the new law, the vigilante outfit will be established in all the 654 autonomous communities across the state.
