Veteran Nollywood actress, Clarion Chukwurah, has urged President Bola Tinubu to arm community vigilantes as an emergency response to insecurity while Nigerians wait for the full take-off of state police.
Chukwurah made the appeal in an open letter shared on her Instagram page on Wednesday.
The actress commended Tinubu for supporting the creation of state police, describing the move as a step in the right direction.
She, however, warned that the process may take one to two years before becoming fully operational, especially in rural communities where kidnappers have continued to terrorise residents.
According to her, communities under attack cannot afford to wait endlessly for state police while criminals continue to exploit weak local security.
“President sir, I applaud the fact that you once became a fugitive on behalf of democracy in Nigeria and your recent move to facilitate the creation of state police to combat insecurity in our country,” she wrote.
“Sir, we know the process that will lead to its actual full-scale operations in every state will take at least one to two years, especially in extending its operations into the villages in the rural states where the activities of kidnappers are overwhelming and require immediate urgent solution.”
Use Security Funds To Defend Communities
Chukwurah called on the President to direct part of the National Security Emergency Intervention Fund towards community self-defence.
She said vigilante groups should be supported and given the capacity to bear arms in order to protect their communities before state police becomes fully functional.
“Mr President, please, direct the use of a part of the billions of the National Security Emergency Intervention Fund to support community self-defence through vigilantes who are given the capacity to bear arms and protect their communities,” she said.
The actress also asked the government to assist schools in hiring armed security personnel to protect pupils, students and teachers.
She said kidnappers have continued to thrive because victims are helpless, while criminals, informants and complicit security officials know that many communities cannot defend themselves.
“We know that only cowards kidnap children for money, and keep a two-year-old child in captivity in the forest to endure rainfall, poor nutrition, heat, and mosquitoes,” she wrote.
“Kidnapping has thrived in Nigeria because the kidnappers, neighbourhood informants, and complicit police officers know that the victims are powerless and helpless.”
Chukwurah also said Tinubu’s government is facing internal political pressure, external interference and poor strategies in tackling poverty and unemployment.
She argued that insecurity and poverty are crippling Nigeria and making it difficult for citizens to believe in the good intentions of the government.
According to her, no meaningful progress can be achieved while communities remain unsafe and citizens continue to live in fear.
“Sir, the average Nigerian living in poverty does not believe that you are not the enemy, or understand that there are challenges your government has to face,” she added.
“This is why I have chosen to make this plea because there cannot be any meaningful progress in the current state of Nigeria crippled by insecurity and poverty from the present economic crisis no matter how well-meaning your intentions are.”
Chukwurah said arming communities through properly supported vigilantes would give Nigerians an immediate line of defence before state police is fully established.
She added that such a move would show compassion and prove that the government is serious about protecting lives.
“Mr President, by enabling this immediate line of defence for every community before state police becomes fully operational, especially the massive population of unemployed poor, and assistance to schools to employ armed security men to defend the lives of children and teachers, you will replace the face of indifference on your leadership with that of compassion,” she said.
Her appeal comes days after the Senate passed a constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police across the country.
