The Imo State House of Assembly has passed a bill amending the State Security Organization (IMSO) Law No. 2 of 2021 to officially incorporate vigilante groups as part of the state's security architecture amid escalating insecurity challenges.

Majority Leader Kanayo Onyemaechi, representing Owerri West Constituency, presented the bill, highlighting that the amendment became necessary due to the alarming rate of insecurity in the state, particularly in rural communities where response to security threats has been inadequate.

According to Onyemaechi, the original 2021 law failed to include vigilante groups, creating a significant security gap in rural areas that often lack immediate response capabilities when security challenges arise.

"The vigilante groups, being recruited from within their immediate environment, will be able to easily identify any security breach or criminal activity that may arise within their localities," Onyemaechi explained to his colleagues during the presentation.

Under the new amendment, vigilante outfits will work in collaboration with conventional security agencies to identify and apprehend criminal elements. The law envisions establishing vigilante groups across all 654 autonomous communities in Imo State.

The Majority Leader emphasized that this legislative action aligns with the recent directive from the state governor instructing all stakeholders, including local government chairmen, traditional rulers, and president-generals, to take decisive action against insecurity in their respective domains.

The amendment represents a significant shift in Imo State's security strategy, formally recognizing community-based security initiatives as essential components in the fight against crime and insecurity that has plagued parts of the state in recent times.