BY ANDREW IKEHI
Members of Ebuogba Vigilante group, Agbor in Ika South local government area of Delta State have vowed to sustain their operations towards ridding the community off criminal activities.
The group said this at the weekend when some concerned residents in the area paid them a thank-you-visit at their secretariat for what they (residents) described as “their gallant activities” during the yuletide season.
The Unit leader of the Vigilante group, Engr. Ebenezer Azobu said that the group is committed to ensuring that the area is uncomfortable for the criminal elements within the neighborhood.
According to Azobu, “with our routine patrol in this area, we are giving every criminally-minded individual the ultimatum to relocate or look elsewhere as we will continue to match them power for power and strength for strength.
“Any of them who refuses to relocate or have a change of attitude, should be ready for us” Azobu said.
He, however enjoined the residents, particularly landlords and landladies in the area to cooperate with them in the exercise by not only reporting suspected criminal activities, but by ensuring that they scrutinize those they give out their apartments to as tenants.
While saying that the group is working in synergy with conventional security outfits such as the Nigerian Police and other security agencies, the Unit leader said that a few persons who have been apprehended by the group have since been handed over to the police.
Speaking during the visit, some of the residents who included a renowned business man in the area, Mr Friday Chukwuma, noted that with the regular patrol of members of the local vigilante, residents were able to carry out their legitimate activities without fear of being robbed.
According to him, as against the previous experience, residents can now sleep with their eyes closed.
Mr. Chukwuma, while commending the group, noted that cases of piffery, breaking and entry, snatching of motorcycles, snatching of telephones and other valuables have long reduced since the inauguration of the Vigilante group in the area
He promised that the residents would continue to accord the group the needed support for the discharge of their duties.