State Sponsored Vigilante Groups Have No Right To Bear Arms – FG

The Federal Government has stated that the neighbourhood watch popularly known as vigilante group, being set up by various state governments cannot bear firearms unless authorized by the constitution.


It described arms bearing as a serious responsibility that could not be permitted to any group without proper training and skill.

The announcement by the Lagos State government last week that it was recruiting about 5,000 personnel for its neighbourhood watch, had generated public concerns over the possible arming of the vigilance group.

Enugu State had also said it would recruit and deploy 25,000 men for its vigilance group to avert attacks by Fulani herdsmen in the state.

But the Director, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Interior, Willy Bassey, said on Saturday that all private security guards in the country must be registered by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.

He noted that the NSCDC Act gives the agency the constitutional mandate to register all private security guards, noting, however, that they cannot bear arms.