Chairman of Emohua Local Government Council in Rivers State , Dr Chidi Lloyd has raised the alarm over an alleged planned attack on innocent citizens of the area by members of the disbanded OSPAC vigilante group.
Dr Lloyd in statement by his media aide, Bright Jossy Elendu said intelligence report available to the council has it that members of the disbanded OSPAC vigilante group plans to barricade the East-West Road to unleash mayhem on innocent citizens and commuters.
Consequently, the council boss urged members of the disbanded vigilante group to submit their arms to the security agencies and desist from unlawful activities such as aiding and abetting illegal oil bunkering and undue interference in chieftaincy, matrimonial and land disputes in communities.
He declared that the government will stop at nothing to ensure the security of lives and property in the area and directed security agencies to clampdown on every unlawful activities and gatherings in the local government area, with major attention on the planned attack by members of the disbanded group.
Not unmindful of the contributions of members of the disbanded group to the existing peace and security in the area, Lloyd revealed that the local government authority will be meeting with stakeholders in the different communities in a view to reviewing the establishment of the vigilante groups across the council.
He however noted with regret the activities of some bad eggs among members of the groups which led to their disbandment by the previous administration, but disclosed that his administration plans to reorganize the vigilante group which will be carefully constituted and regulated by the local government with provisions for stipends to motivate members.
“We are calling on the divisional police officers and heads of other security agencies in Emohua Local Government Area to immediately work with the information we have given to them.
“From next week we plan to meet with stakeholders in the various communities to reorganise the vigilante. We will look amongst them to get young men who will form the local government vigilante service which the government will be responsible for, we will regulate their activities and also give them stipends as an appreciation but we cannot just allow anybody to carry gun under the guise of community vigilante and begin to interfere into matrimonial dispute and chieftaincy matters.
“We will look at the good ones amongst the members of the disbanded vigilante groups and profile them as we reorganise the vigilante. He said.
The council chairman urge residents, visitors and commuters to go about their normal businesses, as the local government and security agencies are very determined to ensure the security of lives and property in the area.
