Anambra Vigilance Group (AVG) has said it is determined to recover prohibited firearms from unlicensed individuals or groups with a view to curb insecurity in the State.
The Director, Media and Publicity of AVG, Chief Nweke Nweke, who disclosed this in a press conference, explained that the move was in line with their discoveries that some hoodlums operating in the State acquired firearms illegally.
According to Nweke, AVG with support of the police and other security teams, would embark on mop-up action geared towards identifying legally and illegally possessors of firearms with a view to checkmating their legitimate users and recovering them from illegal users.
He sought public supports for ease identifications of firearms users such as pump-action, which according to him, was prohibited from non-AVG members with an exception of private security guards either registered with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps or known to the State government.
Nweke praised the efforts of governor Chukwuma Soludo to make the State heaven for both local and foreign investors, liveable and prosperous to all, assuring that the AVG and other security agents would leave no stone unturned by securing the environment as envisaged by the current administration.
“Our governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo is not relenting on his campaign promises to make Anambra State liveable and prosperous. We are solidly behind the administration’s resolve to secure the environment for investors, residents and others. We will wipe out all the hoodlums constituting security threats in the State.
“Only the AVG is allowed to bear firearms like pump actions in Anambra State. It is a prohibited device but you can see some unidentifiable individuals and groups using them. AVG with other joint security teams will embark on mop-up action to identify people or groups using prohibited firearms and recover them from the public. Genuine users will be checkmated.
“It has been discovered that most of these hoodlums who are causing security challenges in the State and all over Nigeria acquired firearms illegally. We are calling on the public to assist the security with relevant information. We are also calling on individuals or groups with genuine reasons to possess arms to identify with relevant authorities for better,” he added.
The image maker of AVG also enjoined the public to see them as partner in progress especially by making ways for them while on traffics as delaying their convoys could affect their drives to apprehend criminals.
“We are committed to protection of lives and properties in Anambra State as baby police. If you see us on the highway or streets, kindly give way for our convoys. Don’t stop us. Do not try to obstruct our movements or operations. Do not call us unprintable names as we try to serve you better. If you stop us, it can make us not to meet up with our targets. You don’t know if there are criminals we are trying to catch-up with,” he noted.
