www.odogwublog.com reports that a group of young Igbo intelligentsia drawn from all walks of life and parts of the world under the aegis of Igbo Patriots says disarming local vigilantes that were legally established by the laws of the state under certain security guidelines as enshrined in the nation's constitution, would mean throwing the people at the mercy of outlaws, arm-wielding Fulani herdsmen and other criminal gangs without let.

The group made this claim while briefing the press yesterday.
 
 The National chairman of the Igbo Patriots, Evangelist Joseph Agbo pointed out that there are relevant laws in Nigeria that allow people to carry certain level of arms, especially those within the security sector, including the Neighbourhood Watch and State Vigilantes to carry arms.

 He said Igbo Patriots finds it difficult to believe that the IGP will disarm a well constituted vigilante groups noting that agencies which have been working hand in hand with the police, are actually the foot soldiers, legs, hands and eyes in the policing of our communities.

 "There are requisite laws that authorized them to carry arms. It would be better said that police only want to disarm those who illegally acquired arms. We hope the IGP has already disarmed all those AK47 automatic rifles in possession of the murderous Fulani herdsmen", the group stressed.
 
 They disclosed they have taken it upon themselves to tour the whole states in the South East to sensitize the people about the dangers associated with the disarming order.
 
 Agbo who is also the chairman of the group's Board of Trustees(BoT)doubt if the IGP would make a blanket order, but would be happy to see the herdsmen disarmed.
 
 Anything short of these conditions would be against the relevant laws setting up these vigilantes.
 
 Agbo noted that his group was not just waking up to these life threatening issues, but has been gradual in going round the geopolitical zone because their people were under threat.
 
 He pointed at a specific threat "handed down on Oct 11,1960 by the then Premier of the Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello who told his caucus in very plain language, 'the new nation called Nigeria should be an estate of our great grand father Uthman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent any change of power. We use the minority in the north as willing tools and the south as a conquered territory. We will never allow them to rule over us. We will never allow them to have control over their future' "
 
 The BoT boss believed that their future is now, but expressed sadness that forces outside Igboland appear ready to derail them from taking care of that future. So we are not looking at anybody's body language, we are looking at our environment, our territory and cosmology. We are seeing our territory being overrun as people can no longer go to farm without fear of being killed, raped and assaulted.
 
And that the Igboman has never depended on foodstuff brought in from elsewhere to sustain himself, but that he farms to produce enough to satisfy his needs. So The Igbo Patriots want the people to rise up to the challenge and resist the chest beating of the invaders and their numerous insidious ploys.