Fear in Umunze as the community launches vigilante

                                                  
                                                    
 Umunze community in Orumba South local government area of Anambra State has launched an internal vigilante service. The people of Umunze have taken the bull by the horns by embarking on village by village security service to boost the central vigilante group in the town, in a bid to fight the insecurity issues in the community and its neighbourhood, and reduce crime to a minimal level. Umunze community has been witnessing various issues of insecurity in the recent times. The location of the community as a border town and as one of the fast growing town in the state makes it attractive and easy for infiltration of criminals into the town.
  The Governor of anambra state represented by his Special Assistance on Security, Hon Azubike Egbealu, speaking at Mbara Izo, the venue of the event commended the people of Umunze for coming up with the initiative. He however, urged the people to keep up with the good work they have started, and, maintained that Governor Obiano will keep surporting the community.
  The Anambra state Commissioner of police represented by the D.P.O Umunze police station, Mr. Sunday Kayode stressed the impoprtance of the newly formed vigilante service and commended the people for embarking on such task. He maintained that Umunze is very large that only the central vigilante group cannot handle the threat of insecurity in the town. Furthermore, he maintained that it is a new dawn for Umunze, and, that insecurity issues will soon be a thing of the past. He however, urged the new security team to maitain status quo-working within the confines and armbit of the law,desist from all kinds of jobs capable of tarnishing their image, and maintain their territory. He also advised them against the use of illegal arms and raising false alarms.
  Former Deputy Governor of Anambra State Mr Emeka Sibeudu was of the view that security is a collective effort. He maintained that an unchecked security problem in Umunze can infiltrate into the whole state. However, he urged the new vigilante group to keep to security norms and ethics in the discharge of their duties, adding that problem will only arise if they are found wanton in which case the law will be followed to the last letter. On the issue of non-prosecution of suspects raised, he disclosed that lack of evidence has been a major factor limiting the prosecution of suspects and therefore urged the people to follow-up cases with authentic evidence.
  The traditional ruler of Umunze Igwe P.N Eze (Abilikete 11) earlier in his speech commended the President General, Umunze progressive Union for his efforts towards the realisation of this project. He expressed his happiness that the people of Umunze finally stood up to the challenges of insecurity by themselves maintaining that before now, the vigilante service in the town had been embroiled-in and marred by internal politics which he urged them to desist from. Igwe Eze prayed for the welfare of the town and for God's absolute control of the new security team especially at a time when the town is seen as weak. He finally, urged the new security to see their new position as a means of rendering humanitarian services to the people.
  The commander of Anambra state vigilante services Mr. Onyechi Ngene Emmanuel while addressing the people stressed on the use of firearms and maintained that unwarranted use of firearms is not authorised. He was of the view that unnecessary shooting will make it difficult to know actually when criminals are operating. Furthermore, he warned that viglante service should not be an avenue for insulting people and,that arms should not be kept by individuals but by the police.
  Highlights of the occassion were the inauguration of the new vigilante members by the D.P.O and distribution of identity cards to them.