The Commissioner of Police, CP Nwonyi Emeka has read riot act to vigilance group in the state .
CP Emeka warned vigilance group members against detention, torture of arrested persons .CP Emeka gave the warning during a stakeholders meeting with people of Rivers East senatorial district .
“CP Emeka said the Vigilante in crime fighting in Rivers State has come to stay. While we like their activities, we emphasize on their excess .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 .
“Tyrannical activities of vigilante must be curtailed. They are not a force unit themselves. For instance will have situation where they turn to debt collectors, flogging people. Your duty is to arrest and share information. You don’t have power to detain and investigate.
“If a person is condemned by court for hanging, and the person is shot the person who shot him has committed murder.
“Vigilantes maintain your mandate. Activities of Vigilance group 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) State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) Victor Erivwede said there are many human rights abuses by the Vigilance group. Vigilance group 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 Vigilance group. Many 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, Porthacourt, Obio/Akpor LGAs , traditional rulers, Youth leaders, Vigilance group members were all in attendance.