Former Governor of Anambra State, Senator Chris Ngige, has revealed an unconventional approach he adopted to tackle insecurity during his tenure, which began in 2003.
According to a Vanguard report published on Thursday, August 7, 2025, Ngige explained that rather than relying solely on conventional security forces, he decided to integrate local troublemakers whom he referred to as “bad boys” into the state’s vigilante network.
He said his administration instructed each community in Anambra to compile and submit a list of these “bad boys” for possible recruitment. Once the names were received, the individuals were offered employment as vigilantes on the condition that they abandon all criminal activities.
“They wrote them, so we gave employment to all of them and brought the bad boys and said, ‘Look, you people are bad boys, look at the list, any false movement, you are dead, but you owe us a duty to show us other bad boys, even those who have committed crime here and run out of the state,’” Ngige recounted.
The former governor noted that the vigilantes were well provided for, receiving ₦30,000 monthly salaries, which he claimed was a substantial amount in 2003 equivalent to about ₦3 million in today’s value.
“And they complied,” Ngige said. “We paid them handsome amounts of money, 30,000 naira in 2003, 2004, 2005. That 30,000 naira is the equivalent of about three million now.”
In addition to their salaries, the recruits were given food twice a day, transport buses to facilitate movement, and even airtime allowances to ensure they could communicate effectively while on duty.
Ngige stressed that the strategy proved highly effective in restoring security across the state. He recalled that during a political crisis when police protection was withdrawn from him as governor, the vigilantes stepped in to safeguard him he added.
