Mr. Nwonyi Polycarp, the Commissioner of Police (CP) for Rivers State, has issued a stern warning to the various vigilance groups operating in the state, urging them to refrain from engaging in extortion, unlawful detention, or torture of arrested suspects.
During a stakeholders meeting with residents of Rivers East Senatorial District in Port Harcourt, the CP read the Riot Act to the local security groups, acknowledging their valuable contributions to crime fighting in the state. However, he emphasized the need to address their excesses, making it clear that jungle justice would not be tolerated.
“We appreciate their activities, but we emphasize the need to curb their excesses. We will not tolerate vigilante groups engaging in acts of jungle justice. It is unacceptable for those tasked with protecting life and property to turn around and engage in killings and beheadings,” stated Polycarp.
He emphasized that the tyrannical activities of the vigilante groups must be curbed, reminding them that they are not a separate law enforcement unit.
“For instance, we have cases where they act as debt collectors and resort to flogging people. Their duty is to make arrests and share information. They do not have the authority to detain and conduct investigations. If a person has been sentenced to hanging by a court, and someone shoots that person, the shooter has committed murder,” explained CP Polycarp.
The Commissioner of Police stressed that vigilance groups must adhere to their designated roles and responsibilities. He further highlighted the importance of monitoring their activities, with involvement from traditional rulers, the police, and local government chairmen. Any arrests made by vigilante groups should be handed over to the police for further investigation and processing.
In his remarks, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Victor Erivwode, who oversees the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), expressed concerns about the involvement of vigilante groups in human rights abuses within the state.
Erivwode stated, “Vigilante groups, including OSPAC, started off well but began to derail when they started accepting contracts from political leaders. If I had my way, I would urge the CP to review OSPAC and the vigilante groups. Many of them have criminal tendencies. I have a case on my desk where a vigilante member shot and killed a man simply because the man spoke to his girlfriend.”
During the meeting, it was observed that Local Government Chairmen from Omuma, Ikwerre, Etche, Port Harcourt, and Obio/Akpor, along with traditional rulers, youth leaders, and members of the vigilante groups were in attendance.
