Ugo Nosiri, Owerri
The Imo State House of Assembly has passed into law a bill amending the State Security Organization (IMSO) Law No. 2 of 2021 to formally recognize vigilante groups as part of the official security architecture.
The bill, sponsored by the House Majority Leader and member representing Owerri West Constituency, Hon. Kanayo Onyemaechi, was passed during plenary.
Onyemaechi said the amendment became necessary in light of the growing wave of insecurity in rural areas, where many communities have continued to suffer from delayed security responses and unchecked criminal activities.
According to the lawmaker, the exclusion of vigilante groups from the 2021 security law created operational gaps that compromised safety in communities.
He argued that the local security outfits know the terrain of their communities and can easily identify strange movements and respond to incidents faster than formal security agencies in many rural communities.
The Majority Leader further emphasized that the newly amended law aligns with Governor Hope Uzodimma’s recent directive to LGA chairmen, traditional rulers, and town union leaders to take responsibility for security in their respective domains.
The vigilante groups will be officially deployed in all 654 autonomous communities across Imo State.
“These groups will work in synergy with conventional security agencies to fish out criminal elements. This legal backing will strengthen their operations and close the rural security gap,” Onyemaechi said.
Meanwhile, the bill’s passage has drawn support from some quarters who view it as a practical response to localized insecurity, while some others are raising concerns about accountability, potential abuse of power, and the need for proper training and oversight of vigilante operatives.
