VGN Honours ADC Governorship Candidate Nkoyo Toyo For Contributions To GBV Fight

The Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), Calabar Municipal Command, has honoured the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Cross River State governorship candidate, Ambassador (Hon.) Nkoyo Toyo, with a Positive Impact Legacy Award for her contributions to the fight against gender-based violence (GBV), peace and security, and community development.

Toyo received the recognition on Saturday, November 8, 2026, during the command’s one-day book launch, thanksgiving and award ceremony held at Solution in Jesus Ministry International, Calabar. She was represented at the event by the Executive Director of Gender and Development Action (GADA), Nnenna Ugbor.

In her response, Toyo expressed appreciation to the Vigilante Group for the recognition, saying the award would spur her to do more. She thanked the organisers and said she would not take the honour for granted.

According to the award certificate, the recognition was in appreciation of her “outstanding commitment to the fight against Gender-Based Violence, promotion of Peace and Security, Community Development, Empowerment, and Humanitarian Services in Calabar Municipality and Cross River State at large.”

The ceremony also featured the launch of Practical Approach in Curbing Violent Crimes and Insecurity in Nigeria, authored by Godwin Asuquo Akpan.

Speaking at the event, Akpan called on the government and other security agencies to support local vigilante groups to enable them to sustain security operations and protect communities.

He advocated community-based security collaboration, intelligence gathering and partnerships with formal security agencies as approaches to tackling violent crimes and insecurity.