sitemaster By Nankpak Cirfat
The brutal lynching of 16 innocent travelers in Uromi, Edo State, is not just another tragic headline but also a grim indictment of a nation that has allowed its informal security structures to spiral into lawlessness. These victims, whose only “crime” was carrying hunting rifles while traveling home Port Harcourt in Rivers state to Kano State, were failed by a system that has normalized mob justice and vigilante overreach. But for how long must this madness continue?
Vigilante groups in Nigeria have long been a double-edged sword. Born out of necessity in communities where formal policing is inadequate, they have provided localized security in areas plagued by crime in like in Dunukofia Local Government of Anambra state, where they have helped manage crime, intervened in ethno-religious conflicts and herder-farmer violence in Plateau state or is it the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) that have been instrumental in protecting communities from armed gangs in the Northeast. Yet, as the Uromi tragedy painfully illustrates, some of these groups often operate without accountability, turning from protectors to perpetrators. The absence of a coherent legal framework at the federal level has left their operations dangerously unregulated, leading to abuses that undermine the very safety they are meant to ensure.
The Uromi incident is not an isolated case. Across the country, vigilante groups have been implicated in extrajudicial killings, torture, and other human rights abuses. The Bakassi Boys in southeastern Nigeria, for instance, were once celebrated for curbing crime but later became infamous for their brutal methods and political manipulation. Similarly, the O’odua People’s Congress (OPC) in the southwest has faced allegations of ethnic violence and human rights violations.
Although the Nigerian Constitution guarantees the right to life and due process, these rights are routinely trampled upon by vigilante groups operating with impunity. The lack of federal legislation regulating these groups has created a legal vacuum that allows state governments to endorse them without adequate oversight. While some states have enacted laws to formalize vigilante activities, these measures vary widely and often fail to include robust human rights safeguards.
However, the recently proposed Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) Establishment Bill offers a glimmer of hope. I am optimistic that by creating a national framework for regulating vigilante groups, this legislation could standardize their operations and ensure accountability. However, it must go further by mandating strict adherence to human rights standards and establishing independent oversight mechanisms to investigate abuses.
Meanwhile, addressing the vigilante crisis requires more than just legal reforms; it demands a fundamental shift in how we approach community security. First, all vigilante groups must be required to register with local authorities and undergo rigorous training on human rights and conflict resolution. Second, their activities should be closely monitored by independent bodies comprising civil society organizations, legal experts, and community representatives.
Now more than ever, the government must invest in strengthening formal policing. The reliance on vigilante groups is a sign of deeper systemic failures within Nigeria’s security apparatus. Increasing police funding, improving officer training, and fostering community-police partnerships, we can reduce the need for informal security actors.
The Uromi tragedy should serve as a wake-up call for all Nigerians. We cannot continue to outsource our safety to unregulated groups whose actions often exacerbate insecurity rather than alleviate it. The federal government needs to take decisive action by enacting comprehensive legislation that balances the need for community security with the imperative of protecting human rights.
While I say this partly as a solution, President Bola Tinubu and members of the National Assembly must note that the time for half-measures is over. Pass the Vigilante Group of Nigeria Establishment Bill with provisions that prioritize accountability and human dignity and state governments must stop endorsing vigilante groups without stringent oversight mechanisms. And as Nigerian, we must demand better from your leaders.
But let me ask again, for how long must this madness continue? The answer lies in our collective will to build a society where justice prevails over mob rule and where every life is valued equally under the law before another innocent life is lost to this madness.
