Pro-Government Militias

Pro-Government Militia Website

Operation Vigilance (Nigeria)

Basic Group Information

Name assigned by coder: no
PGM ID Number: 406
Country: Nigeria
Date formed: Aug. 20, 1998
    Accuracy of date formed: year
Details of Formation: This special state security outfit was founded in 1998 to fight crime in Enugu state.
Date dissolved: Unknown
    Accuracy of date dissolved: day
Details of Termination:
Termination Type(s): not terminated

Former and Successor Group Information

Predecessor group(s): none
Successor group(s): none
Private Military Company? no
Former Group? no information
    Former Armed Group? no information
Former Rebel Group? no information
    Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: none
PGM Becomes Rebel Group? no information
    Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: none

Government Relation, Support, and Training

Government Relation: semi-official (type 2)
Created by the Government?: no information
    Main Creating Government Institution: none
Government Link(s): sub-national government
    If link to party, name of party: None
Training and Equipment: no information
Shared Information and Joint Operations: no information
Shared Personnel: yes
Type(s) of Material Support: domestic government
State Sponsor(s): none
Other Connection(s):

Group Characteristics

Membership: security forces
Primary Membership: noncivilian
Alternative Primary Membership: no information
Location: Enugu State
Force Strength: [unknown, unknown]
Target(s): criminals; unarmed political opposition, government critics; journalists
Purpose(s): protect property and investment; self-defense and security; anti crime

Ethnic Characteristics

Ethnic Target(s): none
    Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: not applicable
Ethnic Membership: none
    Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: not applicable
Ethnic Purpose: none
    Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: not applicable

Other Information

Other Information: The group is composed of policemen but has a separate mission and identity.

New Variables from Meta-Analysis

Purpose

Purpose: The state government supported the militia because it fought against crime and assisted the police in its operations. The militia targeted protesters.
Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use unknown

Treatment of Civilians

Treatment of Civilians: The militia has used tear gas when they confronted anti-government protesters. A publicist was killed by the militia.
Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: killing; beating

Reasons for Membership

PGM Members Coerced? no information
PGM Members Paid? no information
Reasons for Membership: No information.
PGM Members Killed? rarely

PGM Size

Size: No information.

Weapons and Training

Weapons and Training: The militia used tear gas to suppress student protests. But there is no information on other weapons used or training.

Organisation

Organisation: Operation Vigilance was a special security outfit of the Enugu police.

Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis

Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD.

Evidence