The Imo State House of Assembly has urged Governor Hope Uzodinma to mandate all the traditional rulers in the state to cooperate with local vigilantes in their respective domains to foster peace and adequate security in the rural areas.

The move followed the adoption of the motion moved by Ozioma Worship Benneth Ebonine, who represents Njaba Constituency.

Presenting the motion on the floor of the Assembly, the lawmaker said that people who operate the vigilante are mainly youths who know the nooks and crannies of their immediate environment and are in a better position to checkmate criminal activities in their various communities.

He informed the House that most of the youths are idling around in the communities and that the best way to engage them is by giving them the task of security with a workable relationship with their traditional rulers, who will checkmate their operations.

The Njaba lawmaker informed that there are already existing local vigilantes virtually in all the communities in the state. He pointed out that the problem, however, is that some of the traditional rulers are not working in synergy with them, for one reason or another.

Ebonine observed that most of the crimes being recorded were perpetrated by youths and that it is advisable to get them involved in fighting crime to minimise the rate of criminal activities and youth restiveness in the communities.

“Youths’ involvement in community security will help to checkmate crimes in our communities and also help to close up the gap between Imo community youth leaders and the state government. Some of the youth leaders are not very busy but if involved in community security, they will be of great assistance in minimising the crime rate,” he stated.

He prayed that the House should urge the governor of the state to mandate all the traditional rulers to empower the local vigilantes already existing in the communities.