Vigilante Group of Nige
ria, Cross River State Command, has restated its commitment to join hands with other law enforcement agents to fight all forms of criminal activities in the State.
The State Commander, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Rev. (Dr.) Mercy Felix Effiom, stated this while briefing newsmen in her office in Calabar, the State capital.
Rev. (Mrs.) Effiom who explained that the activities of her organisation would in no way conflict with the Police Force, State Security Service (SSS) and other security operatives in the state said, the operations of the organisation were strictly to arrest suspects and hand them over to the police for onward prosecution.
She said, “We are voluntary security operatives that assist in the maintenance of law and order with Motto: Say No To Crime is aimed at reducing criminal acts, protect lives and properties, assist in accident or any other occurrence of natural disasters, arrest and hand over suspected criminals to the police, monitoring of schools during school hours and as well provide intelligent information to the police.”
She hinted that the organisation with its headquarters at Kaduna was founded in 1983 by Alhaji Ali Sokoto, an indigene of Sokoto who resides in Kaduna, and was later registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in 1999, while it subsequently commenced operation in Cross River in November 12, 2012.
The State Vigilante Group commander further noted that since her assumption of office in February 4, 2013, the command’s strength had grown to over 4,000 non-questionable able men and women spread across the 18 local government areas to fight crime in both urban and rural communities, adding that since then, several arrests had been made including kidnappers who were handed over to the police for prosecution.
Rev. (Dr.) Effiom commended the state Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke for his pragmatic and visionary leadership which has earned the state its present status.
She also used the occasion to appeal to Senator Liyel Imoke to absorb the organisation into his security network in the state, provide office accommodation as well as operational vehicles to enable the organisation operate effectively.
Rev (Dr.) Effiom further enumerated some achievements of the organisation to include, the arrest of one Essien Okokon suspected to have been one of the suspects that killed an indigene of Owom village, late Saviour Effiom.
In a related development, the organisation has alerted the security agents on the invasion of Ntan Obu village by the Fulani cattle rearers on January 24, 2014 that claimed the lives of two persons and left more than 10 natives wounded.
In their contributions, Assistant Commander of Vigilante Group in the State, Mr. Ene James Anam, the State PRO, Mr. Emmanuel A. Akpama, Area Commander, Northern Senatorial District, Adie Paulina A. and a Superintendent of Vigilante Group, Mr. Emmanuel Etock, appealed to the 18 local government chairmen in the state to cooperate with officers of the Vigilante Group in their areas as well as assist them to carry out their respective duties.
L-R: Commander, Joint Task Force, Bayelsa State, Commodore Ime Henry Ekpa, Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mr Frank Hanachor and Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, Mr Benaebi Oba, at the 2014 International Day Against Drug Trafficking in Yenagoa, yesterday.
