…Rivers CP warns Vigilante groups against torture, illegal detention
*Orders DPOs to closely monitor Vigilante groups
Eric Olusesan/Port Harcourt
The Commissioner of Police, CP Nwonyi Emeka of Rivers State has read riot act to vigilante groups in the state against illegal detention, torture of arrested persons.
The State Criminal Investigations Intelligence Department, SCIID, is presently investigating a case of a man who was shot dead by a member of vigilante, for allegedly speaking to his girlfriend.
The Police boss warned against excesses during a stakeholders meeting with people of Rivers East Senatorial district .
According to him, “the role of Vigilante in crime fighting in Rivers State has come to stay. While we like their activities, we condemn their excesses. We will not tolerate jungle justice from Vigilantes. We cannot have a group of people to protect life and property, and the same people are the ones killing, beheading people.
“Tyrannical activities of vigilante must be curtailed. They are not force unit themselves. For instance, we have some situations where they turn to debt Collectors and flogging people. Your duty is to arrest and share information. You don’t have power to detain and investigate.
“If a person is not condemned by court for hanging, and the person is shot, the person who shot him has commited murder.”
He called on Vigilantes to work strictly within their mandate and their activities must be monitored by the traditional rulers, Police, Local Government Chairmen. Any arrest made by the Vigilance group must be handed over to the Police.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of Police,(DCP) Victor Erivwede, in charge of State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), said “there are many human rights abuses by the Vigilante groups. Vigilante groups or OSPAC started well, but started derailing when they began to take contracts from Political leaders. If I have my way, I will tell the CP to review the OSPAC and Vigilante groups. Many members of the OSPAC are criminals”.
I have a case in my table where a vigilante member shot a man dead because the man spoke to his girlfriend.
Our correspondent reports that Chairmen of Omuma, Ikwerre, Etche, PortHarcourt, Obio-Akpor LGAs, traditional rulers, Youth leaders, Vigilance group members were all in attendance.