The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, has commended the Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG) for the protection of life and property in his kingdom.
Speaking at this year’s Ofala festival in the ancient city, the Monarch said although the statutory security agencies have bases in Onitsha, the community relies mainly on vigilante services for security.
The Monarch said: “The security operatives we have are the Anambra State Vigilante Group(AVG), numbering 25 persons under the command of the state government and the Onicha Ado Community Vigilante (OCVU), numbering about 59 persons under the command of Ime Obi Onicha.
” Both groups work collaboratively together and with the statutory agencies, occasionally supported by Onitsha Youths Council, to maintain relative peace in the community.
“Our biggest challenge is the inadequacy of funding for salaries, equipment, and consumables which are literally borne by the community, except for the paltry state government contribution of only N10,000 each for ten persons per month only.
“Their minimum salary of N20,000 is below the national minimum wage salary and we have to augment with benefits in kind.
” The other major challenge is how to structurally merge the two vigilante groups under one command for optimum effect.
“Onitsha has become the destination for the mostly jobless and transient youths from the rural communities in search for an elusive better life.
“Like other large cities in the country, Onitsha has its own share of security challenges during the year and continuing.
“Our main challenges remain youth unemployment, gangsterism, touring, homelessness, petty and armed robbery, cultism, drug addiction, child prostitution, rape etc.
“Unfortunately, the Indigenous community is not spared of these pressured of urbanization, and we constantly struggling to maintain a balance between our traditional life and modernization.
“If greater Onitsha doesn’t move forward, Alaigbo won’t move forward.
That’s why we’re embarking on massive road construction in Onitsha and sacking of touts, even though they keep resurfacing. But we won’t relent until all of them are flushed out.
“In the coming weeks, something outstanding will happen in the state in terms of security, so our people should be expectant.”
