The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Mohammed Adamu, has been urged to reconsider his stance and directives on the issue of arm surrender by local vigilante which included the ONELGA Security and Peace Advisory Council (OSPAC), in the interest of the people.
Dr Henacor Eluke made the call in an exclusive chat with The Tide, recently, in Port Harcourt.
Eluke, a lecturer with the Rivers State University, said the IGP’s call was based on narrow information gathered by those who are not on ground.
The don who went down memory lane, recalled how some areas like East-West Road and Port Harcourt- Owerri Road became safe haven for criminal activities until the intervention of OSPAC and other local vigilante groups.
According to him, some police stations were taken over by cultists while men and officers of the police Force posted in such areas sought refuge among the locals.
He maintained, that if, Mr Adamu were abreast with these details, he would not have made the statement.
The university lecturer, who spoke in near tears, expressed disappointment over the IG’s call, due to the level of respect and trust he placed on his person and office.
“I am disappointment in your novel directive. Oga IGP, I am in pains that your State Commands do not give you the ugly realities of the security situations in our local communities. If they did, you would not have disappointed your teeming supporters by dishing out such anti, people directive”, he said.
Using some areas like Ikwerre Communities as a case study, he pointed that locals were on daily basis, terrorised by hoodlums, and added that succour came their way with the aid of OSPAC.
“I put it to you that before the formation of OSPAC – a local vigilante in these areas, some daredevil cultists, kidnappers and armed robbers have held our communities hostage. The criminal elements outran your men and in fact, overpowered them. Life became so unbearable to the locals. Every aspect of communal living and existence was brought to a halt.
“The communities became desolate and ghost towns. Our farm roads and forests became dens of criminals or hideouts. They, actually, have more intelligence than your men. The boys operated unhindered and inflicted more pains on the innocent locals”, he hinted.
Since no sane man, he said could confront cultists or armed robbers with bare hands, he suggested a team work with the police and the vigilante so as to sustain the existing peace in the localities.

By: King Onunwor