Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has unveiled a newly formed 7,000-member vigilance outfit, signalling a renewed push to tackle insecurity through grassroots intelligence and community policing.
The Imo State Vigilance Services Organisation was formally introduced on Friday during the passing-out parade of its first batch of operatives, following weeks of intensive training.
Speaking at the event, Uzodimma described the outfit as a critical layer in the state’s security architecture, saying its members would act as the “eyes and ears” of security agencies across Imo’s towns and villages.
According to the governor, the initiative is legally grounded in the Imo State Security Organisation Amendment Law No. 3 of 2025, which empowers the vigilance group to support intelligence gathering and early threat detection.
“This organisation is designed to nip insecurity in the bud,” Uzodimma said, stressing that peace must be sustained through daily vigilance rather than reactionary measures.
He pointed to recent improvements in the state’s security situation, noting that communities experienced a largely incident-free Christmas period — a development he attributed to coordinated security efforts and increased local involvement.
“Our people celebrated freely, without molestation. That is evidence that calm and order are returning,” the governor stated. “But peace must be protected. We cannot afford to be complacent.”
Uzodimma warned that attempts to destabilise the state would be firmly resisted, declaring that what he described as an era of fear was over.
“We have worked too hard to rebuild Imo. Any effort to incite violence will not be tolerated,” he said.
Emphasising community participation, the governor urged residents to collaborate with the vigilance operatives, using a local proverb to underline the importance of unity in security matters.
“When the right hand washes the left and the left washes the right, both hands become clean,” he added.
Imo is not new to regional security initiatives. In 2021, the state joined four other South-East states to establish Ebube Agu, a regional security network created to confront rising criminal activity across the zone.
The newly launched vigilance organisation is expected to operate at the community level, complementing existing security agencies while focusing on intelligence-led prevention.
