The Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) has pledged to support the nation’s statutory security agencies in ensuring peaceful and credible 2027 general elections, promising to deploy its grassroots network for early warning, community intelligence and crime prevention.
The Commandant-General of VGN, Otunba James Udoma, said this on Wednesday in Abuja at his first press briefing since assuming office.
Udoma said the organisation would complement rather than compete with the Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other authorised security agencies.
He said VGN was preparing a 2027 Election Security Support and Community Intelligence Framework aimed at strengthening the flow of credible grassroots information to conventional security agencies before, during and after the elections.
According to him, the organisation’s strength lies in its presence within communities, where its personnel understand local environments, social relationships, movement patterns and emerging security concerns.
‘Properly organised and professionally coordinated, this community presence can become a valuable source of early-warning information for the conventional security agencies,’ he said.
The Commandant-General said the VGN would strengthen community-level monitoring and reporting mechanisms across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with personnel expected to report credible information on emerging threats, community tensions, suspicious activities and potential security flashpoints.
He stressed, however, that VGN would not replace intelligence institutions, but would provide community-level information to the appropriate authorities for professional assessment and action.
Udoma said the organisation would place emphasis on accuracy, verification, confidentiality, timeliness, professional reporting, respect for the law and fundamental human rights.
He added that VGN personnel deployed for election security would not interfere with electoral processes, intimidate voters, obstruct accredited election officials, participate in partisan activities or take the law into their own hands.
‘Where we observe a security incident, our responsibility will be to observe, report and support lawful intervention by the competent authorities,’ he said.
He also disclosed that VGN would sustain its community-based early-warning structures after the elections to help identify emerging tensions and prevent local disputes from escalating into wider security challenges.
On inter-agency collaboration, Udoma said the organisation would strengthen communication and liaison with the Armed Forces, Police, DSS, NSCDC, Federal Road Safety Corps, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), where applicable, and other authorised institutions.
He emphasised that VGN would not establish a parallel security structure, but would ‘build bridges into the existing national security architecture.’
The Commandant-General also issued a strong warning to VGN personnel against partisan political activities during the 2027 electoral cycle, stressing that the organisation must remain politically neutral.
‘VGN is not a political party. Our members may have individual political preferences as citizens, but the organisation itself must remain politically neutral in the discharge of its security-support responsibilities,’ he said.
He directed personnel not to use VGN uniforms, offices, vehicles, insignia or positions to campaign for political parties or candidates.
‘Our loyalty is to Nigeria, the rule of law and the peaceful democratic process,’ he said.
Udoma also warned that he would not tolerate indiscipline, impersonation, extortion, harassment, intimidation, abuse of authority or any conduct capable of bringing the organisation into disrepute.
He said disciplinary measures would be taken against members who acted outside their lawful mandate.
The VGN chief also appealed to the media to exercise responsibility in reporting security-related issues, warning that misinformation could endanger lives.
‘Security information can save lives when responsibly handled, but misinformation can equally endanger lives,’ Udoma said.
He urged journalists to work with the organisation in promoting responsible security reporting, public awareness and peaceful democratic participation, assuring the media that VGN would remain available to clarify official matters concerning its activities.
He similarly urged Nigerians to verify information before sharing it and to report suspicious activities through appropriate channels.
‘Do not allow political differences to destroy relationships that have existed for generations. We may belong to different political parties, but we belong to one Nigeria,’ he said.
Udoma identified the professionalisation of the organisation as another priority of his administration.
He said VGN personnel would undergo intensified training in community policing, intelligence and information gathering, early-warning systems, conflict prevention and de-escalation, human rights, election security awareness, emergency response, first aid, communication, ethics, discipline and inter-agency cooperation.
He said greater emphasis would also be placed on documentation, identification, command discipline and accountability.