Rufai Oseni Slams Police Salute to Vigilantes, Says Nigerians Not Daft
Arise News anchor Rufai Oseni criticized the Nigerian police after a viral video showed an officer waving at a group of armed men on motorcycles. The police later said the men were members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), not bandits as initially suspected. Speaking on Arise Television’s "Morning Show", Oseni asked, "Do they think Nigerians are daft or we don’t have brains?" He questioned why police would salute vigilantes who carry sophisticated weapons, arguing that the situation reflects a larger mess caused by the political class’s selfishness.
The incident highlights growing tensions between formal security forces and informal vigilante groups operating in Nigeria’s insecure regions. It raises questions about the legitimacy of armed civilians, the effectiveness of police responses to banditry, and public trust in security institutions. The commentary also ties the security breakdown to broader governance failures, suggesting that political leaders’ neglect fuels reliance on unofficial forces.
What should readers take from this? Consider whether community vigilance fills a genuine security gap or undermines state authority, and think about how local safety efforts can be coordinated with official forces rather than bypassing them. Ask yourself: If police are saluting armed groups, what does that say about accountability, and what steps should communities demand to ensure genuine security?