Obiaruku-It has been revealed that Vigilante groups in Ukwuani LGA of Delta State had been infiltrated by criminal elements, as the police in the area says that the people of Ukwuani tops the inmate rate in Agbor prison
This revelation was made recently during a meeting between the various vigilante groups in the communities that make up the LGA, and the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Waterways/Land security Committee, Chief Isaac Onyesom (FNCIPA)
The meeting also had in attendance, the divisional Police Officers (DPO’S) of Obiaruku and Umutu.
However, midway into the meeting, a leader of one of the vigilante groups gave a bombshell, as he stood up to reveal to that “one of the biggest challenges of the vigilantes in Ukwuani is facing is that some of their members belongs to criminal groups, especially the cult groups, a development which has created disunity and distrust among the members”.
This development, he said has made it increasingly difficult for the local security groups, in the area to tackle the security challenges, and this has continued to be a source of concern to the people and group.
Also, it was revealed that members of the groups in the areas were hunters, who masquerade as members, a development which is not giving the group the needed courage and room to operate, because the genuine members cannot be verified, which needed to be done, and not until that is done, the true and genuine vigilante men will not be known in the LGA, many of them said.
Reacting to the revelation, the aide to the governor, said the meeting was called for the need to identify the vigilante groups in the local government, identify their challenges, needs and decide on the way forward in order to nip criminality in the bud but not only in the local government, but the entire state.
While urging vigilantes in the local government to cooperate with the police to fight crime, Chief Onyesom appealed to them to rededicate themselves to the selfless service they were engaged in, adding that what was paramount was to rid Ukwuani land of crime and make it peaceful enough to attract development and investors.
In his their remark, the Divisional Police Officers, said it was unfortunate that Ukwuani Local Government has become disturbing to the extent that Ukwuani indigenes top the list of prison Inmates at Agbor.
They therefore solicited the cooperation of the vigilante groups to check the crime rate in the area.
