By Onome Oghenetega
The Delta State Police Command has warned vigilante groups to desist from meddling into political and election duties across the state.
It said security operatives aside the police, armed forces, DSS, Custom, immigration and other sister security agencies such vigilante and private security outfits remained banned from election activities.
The command in a statement signed by the State Public Relations Officer, Chuks Orisewezie on Wednesday warned that anyone caught would be arrested and prosecuted.
The statement read, “Delta State Police Command is dismayed with the way and manner majority of the volunteer organizations are meddling into the election/security affairs. A reference point are the three (3) suspects viz David Ukiri ‘m’, Alfred Joseph ‘m’ and Uvwiejibobor Akpevwe ‘m’ all of Udu in Udu Local Government, arrested with arms, by a detachment of Police officers deployed to CBN to secure electoral materials, who claim to be members of vigilante and were detailed by their chairman to escort electoral materials.
“The Police Authority reiterates that the responsibility of providing security during the 2019 General Election rests on the Police in collaboration with other Security Agencies; namely:Army, Navy, Civil Defence, Federal Road Safety, Immigration, Air Force, and DSS etc.
“The Police therefore warn all stakeholders who have or intend to employ the services of private Security Agents, volunteers, guards vigilantes for the purpose of securing/escorting electoral materials etc to desist from doing so. Any such armed private security personnel in whatever form or guise will be appropriately dealt with.”
This is a good one from the Police, the activities of these so called vigilantes especially in Udu is becoming alarming and a cause for concern.