Anambra alerts
on fake vigilance group
By Okey Maduforo
Correspondent,
Awka
An aide to Governor
Chris Ngige on Security Matters, Mr. Okey Ojibe, has alleged the existence of a
fake vigilance group in Anambra State who go about extorting money from members
of the public.
Ojibe, who is also
the co-ordinator of the state security committee, said in Awka at a one-day
seminar to sensitise the members of the State Vigilance Group.
He said there also
existed several private vigilance groups like ASMATA boys, main market Bakassi
and Awka Bakassi whose activities and operations are without the approval of
the government.
“A group
known as Omor are operating without due approval, extorting and embarrassing
people in the name of Anambra Vigilante Group. The unacceptable activity of
this group is denting the image of the state. Such illegal vigilance group
should be discouraged”, he said.
Ojibe said the
operational mode of the state vigilance group has changed from that of the
defunct Bakassi boys, adding that the group must go back to the original
effective method of only arresting suspects.
He expressed the
hope that the seminar would prepare participants on how best to behave and
carry out their duties in more civilised ways.
Ojibe praised
cooperation between the police and the state vigilante group, adding that the
activities of the Police Commissioner, Mr. Felix Ogbandu, would go a long way
to enhance the execution of the group’s responsibility.
On the occasion the group announced that it has arrested
some armed robbery suspects namely, Emma Omaliko (aka) Miri Nsi Nwafather,
Nduka Kalu, Onyeka Alaye and Emeka Meskana and handed them over to the Special
Anti Robbery Squad (SARS).
