By Ebi Agedah
Members of Neighborhood Security Watch Groups (NSWGs) in Bayelsa State have been charged to carry out their duties strictly in line with the Police Act and other relevant laws to promote peace, security, and harmonious coexistence in their communities.
The charge was given by the Legal Officer of Spaces for Change (S4C), Barrister Patrick Allam, on Thursday, during a two-day empowerment and security training for members of the Neighborhood Security Watch Group in Ondewari Community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.
Barrister Allam said the training was designed to educate community-based security personnel on the legal framework guiding their operations, with a view to strengthening collaboration between the Neighborhood Security Watch Groups and the Nigeria Police Force.
According to him, a clear understanding of the limits of their authority would help prevent abuse, improve professionalism, and build public trust. He stressed that members of the Neighborhood Security Watch Group are not permitted to carry arms or firearms, noting that their responsibilities are limited to vigilance and the resolution of minor disputes within the community.
“Neighborhood Security Watch Groups should not be seen with guns. They are only allowed to settle minor issues. They have no right to arrest anyone, and where an arrest is unavoidable, it must be immediately reported to the police,” he said.
Barrister Allam also underscored the need for strict adherence to fundamental human rights as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution, emphasizing that the right to life is sacrosanct and forms the basis for the enjoyment of all other rights.
“Human rights are rights we have simply because we are human beings. Members of the Neighborhood Security Watch Group must not torture, brutalize, or subject anyone to inhuman or degrading treatment, as such actions are unlawful,” he warned.
Also speaking at the training, Legal Advisor, Solumto Ozogbulu, delivered a session on best practices in public safety, highlighting the importance of identifying early warning signs of conflict and criminal activity to enable proactive crime prevention.
On her part, the Programs Officer of Dataphyte Foundation, Miss Funmilayo Babatunde, urged participants to adopt an inclusive approach to community security management. She advised the Neighborhood Security Watch Group to engage key stakeholders—including community leaders, youths, women, and traditional institutions—before taking major security-related decisions.
Miss Babatunde further encouraged collaboration with media organizations to ensure timely dissemination of information, raise public awareness, and keep residents informed on security issues within the community.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Council of Youths in Ondewari Community, Chief Williams Egbe, expressed appreciation to Spaces for Change and the Open Society Foundations for selecting Ondewari as a beneficiary of the training. He described the initiative as timely and impactful, noting that it would significantly strengthen community-based security efforts.
Similarly, the Leader of the Neighborhood Security Watch Group in Ondewari, Mr. Ayiba-Tonbra Abraham, thanked the organizers for the capacity-building programme and appealed for sustained support to enable the group to discharge its responsibilities more effectively and in full compliance with the law.
