Rivers vigilantes, pregnant woman arrested over alleged illegal activities
The Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Rivers State Police Command on Tuesday arrested eight members of the Diobu Security Services.
The Diobu Security Services, a vigilante group in Port Harcourt stated this, claiming that among those arrested were the Chief Security Officer of the Rumu-Elechi Vigilantes, Godstime Ihunwo, along with his pregnant wife, Joy, who was later released around 11pm on Tuesday.
The action of the policemen followed a petition against the outfit headed by one Prince Amatari by a leader of a sister vigilante group over alleged illegal activities.
Operatives of the Anti-kidnapping Unit of the state police command proceeded to arrest Amatari, but met his absence and fired some gunshots before going after their next target.
It was gathered that on arrival at the office of the vigilante group on Ikom Street, Mile 3, Port Harcourt, the policemen arrested Ihunwo, his pregnant wife and seven other members.
Amatari, who confirmed the arrest of the vigilantes on Wednesday, described the action of the policemen as misleading and unprofessional.
He alleged that the vigilantes were beaten, their base guard and other property destroyed, while unspecified amount of money was carted away by the policemen.
He stated, “The Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Rivers State Police Command’s invasion, beating, arrest and destruction of properties, buildings and base guard of the Diobu Security Service are misleading, unprofessional and a ploy by some notable criminals and cultists to destabilise the existing peace in Diobu.
“The Diobu Security Services is a profiled outfit duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission with registration number RC-16870971 and genuinely complementing the efforts of the police.”
Amatari added, “We are calling on the Commissioner of Police to caution the commander of the anti-kidnapping unit for the unprofessional conduct of his men and order the release of eight members of the Diobu Security Service in their custody. We also want the case transferred to another police unit for unbiased investigation.
“Also, we call for the immediate arrest and trial of every policemen who took part in that unprofessional act with the return of money and valuables taken away, as well as the repair of properties and the base guard destroyed by them.”
The post Rivers vigilantes, pregnant woman arrested over alleged illegal activities appeared first on NEWS.