Vigilantes take over Delta communities as policemen absence continues

The Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, Adode Tete, has deployed vigilantes to beef up security in all communities within the LGA.

This is as policemen continue to shun the directive to return to their duty posts as an aftermath of the #EndSARS protest,

Tete, according to sources, deployed the vigilantes strategically in all the towns and clans of the area following a security meeting he held with the traditional rulers and president-generals of the various kingdoms in the locality.

As part of the arrangement, the president-generals of the seven kingdoms in the LGA had already provided patrol vehicles and other necessary logistics in addition to the council’s provisions “for the effective operations of the local vigilantes.”

The local government council has resolved to grant the vigilantes periodic seminars and training, it was further gathered.

It was learnt that the measures were taken on Monday by the security committee of the local government council with a view to preventing criminals from taking undue advantage of the noticeable absence of policemen at their duty posts and also to avert the perpetration of unlawful acts of jungle justice in all its ramifications.

Newsmen who monitored the development on Wednesday saw some of the vigilantes mounting surveillance at some locations in Ughelli, including the popular East-West road axis of Otovwodo junction, the Ughelli Market, and also at Ekiugo community.

When contacted, Tete confirmed the efforts, saying, “These are just some of the proactive measures being taken by the local government to guard against insecurity in the area.”