South East
PDP Chieftain Flays Arming Of Vigilantes
The Chairman of the Imo State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Eze Duruiheoma, has condemned the possession of arms by vigilance groups in the State.
Addressing a news conference in Owerri recently, Duruiheoma said the sponsorship of the group by the government was a norm but decried their licence to carry sophisticated firearms.
“The use of vigilantes in this state is not new. We saw it from the time of Achike Udenwa and in Ohakim’s administration.
“However, the constitution prohibits private persons from carrying such sophisticated firearms. Why should that law be relaxed for these men who to all intents and purposes are private men?
“However members of that outfit deploy sophisticated weapons and carry them openly, they now compete with the police on security matters,” he said.
Governor Rochas Okorocha last Tuesday launched the Imo Security Network, which is managed by vigilantes in the state.