By Tunji Braimoh, Abuja

The Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) has reaffirmed the leadership of its Commandant General/National Chairman, Otunba James Udoma, while calling on members across the country to embrace unity, reconciliation, and adherence to the organisation’s established chain of command.
In an official statement issued by the National Public Relations Officer of the organisation, the VGN described recent calls for peace and reconciliation as commendable but stressed that genuine reconciliation must be rooted in facts, institutional realities, and respect for the duly constituted organs of the organisation.
The statement was issued in response to what the organisation described as misleading narratives and selective presentations of the history and leadership structure of the VGN circulating on social media. According to the organisation, the intervention became necessary to clarify issues surrounding the leadership of the group and prevent further divisions among members.
The VGN acknowledged the late Alhaji Ali Sokoto as the founding National Chairman of the organisation, noting that his contributions to the establishment and growth of the group remain widely recognised. It further stated that following his death, the internal organs of the organisation appointed the late Navy Captain Umar A.B. Bakori (Rtd.) as National Chairman and Commandant General, a position he held until his death in August 2026.
The organisation noted that Otunba James Udoma served as Deputy National Chairman and Deputy Commandant General throughout Bakori’s tenure and subsequently emerged as National Chairman and Commandant General following the latter’s demise. According to the statement, Udoma’s appointment was carried out through the organisation’s constitutional and institutional processes and was not the result of a unilateral declaration.
The VGN further maintained that all recognised legal and operational instruments of the organisation are currently vested in the office of the Commandant General under the leadership of Otunba James Udoma. It added that the Corporate Affairs Commission-recognised national headquarters of the organisation is under his authority, urging members and stakeholders to be guided by the current institutional position.
While acknowledging the contributions of Dr. Usman Muhammad Jahun, PhD, FSI, to the development of the organisation, the VGN stated that recognition of past service should not be misconstrued as recognition of current leadership. The organisation argued that presenting Jahun as the serving Commandant General does not reflect the present realities within the VGN and called for the dismantling of parallel structures to facilitate a seamless unification process.
The statement disclosed that the new leadership has already inaugurated a National Harmonisation and Reconciliation Committee tasked with engaging stakeholders and creating a pathway for the integration of members into a unified organisational structure. According to the organisation, reconciliation can only be meaningful when members operate under one recognised leadership and a common chain of command.
Emphasising the need for discipline and institutional order, the VGN warned against the promotion of competing leadership structures through social media or other platforms. It urged officers, commanders, stakeholders, and members to place the interests of the organisation above personal loyalties and to cooperate fully with the reconciliation committee.
The organisation also cautioned that any officer found deliberately promoting division, creating parallel authorities, or undermining the recognised leadership may face administrative and disciplinary measures in accordance with the rules governing the organisation.
Reaffirming its commitment to unity, the VGN stated that the time had come for members to move beyond past disputes and work collectively toward strengthening the organisation. It maintained that while the contributions of past leaders and stakeholders would continue to be respected, members must also recognise the present institutional structure and support efforts aimed at building a stronger, more united, and effective Vigilante Group of Nigeria.