Abudu – Vigilante groups in Orhionmwon local government area of Edo State has pledged to work with the police to check criminality in the area.
The pledge is coming days after a security meeting between the group and Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Abudu police divisional headquarters.
They appealed to the state government to provide them with necessary tools to enable them synergize effectively with the various security agencies.
According to the Head of vigilantes in the area, Mr Igbinovia Ogbemudia, the group lack operational vehicle and other logistics to work with.
Ogbemudia noted that government support would encourage others to volunteer, adding operatives of the group use personal resources to buy petrol for their motorcycles and cartridges to secure their various beats.
“Some of our members do not come out; because they are complaining of no support. They use their money to buy fuel, and cartridges.
“No motivation, but when we have like Hilux to move around, and anything to support us, people would come out and we will be able to try our best”, the Abudu vigilante head told The Nigerian Observer recently
The group bursted a four-man robbery gang recently in their hideout, after they successfully burgled the Abudu office of Edo state board of internal revenue in the early hours of October 16th 2021.
The robbery gang led by an escapee from the Benin Prisons during last year’s ENDSARS protests, it was learnt terrorised the Abudu-Evbohen-Iru Axis of Orhionmwon before they were apprehended by the eagle eye vigilantes less than 48-hours after the operation at the revenue office.
Governor Godwin Obaseki had reiterated the need for intelligence gathering and sharing of information with security agencies to improve security as well as ensure the protection of lives and properties of citizens across the state.
“the present administration under the leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki believes that security must be localized to guarantee the safety of lives and properties, hence the setting up of a security network to assist the police in the fight against crimes and criminalities across the state”, The governor, represented by his deputy, Philip Shaibu said last week during a town hall meeting on Wednesday in Ovia North East Local Government Area
