270 men trained on countering grassroots terrorism in Bayelsa

The Bayelsa Vigilance Group of Nigeria (VGN) says it has trained no fewer than 270 men to help other security agencies in countering grassroots terrorism and other crimes in coastal communities of the state.

The Commander, Mr Tolumobofa Akpoebibo, said the trainees would also help the police and other conventional security agencies in Bayelsa by providing information to smash criminals in coastal areas with difficult terrain.

The training was held at Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Training School, Achi, Oji River in Enugu State.

It was organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs in collaboration with the Institute of Corporate Security and Intelligence Studies (ICSIS).

Addressing the participants on arrival in the Bayelsa Office of VGN on Thursday, Akpoebibo urged them to help in ensuring that the communities were safe for all Nigerians.

He urged them to see themselves as volunteers, whose duty was to contribute to the security of the state, using their advantage of being familiar with the terrains.

“Today, cultism has become the order of the day in our communities, which most of the members terrorising law- abiding citizens; it is incumbent on us to use the knowledge of the training to ensure that our community is safe.

“Report and share intelligence with the Nigeria Police to ensure that criminals are promptly smashed and prosecuted,” he said.

During the training, the participants were drilled on counter terrorism, disaster and risk management, oil spillage, anti-robbery, patrol and guards, anti-kidnapping, gender and child protection.

The training was part of the formalization of the bills for the establishment of Vigilance Group of Nigeria, which had been passed by the National Assembly and is waiting for the presidential assent.