The Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Effiong Okon, has ordered the arrest of vigilante members bearing arms not approved by law.
The order was coming following reports that some vigilante groups providing security in some areas and communities of the state were using guns not approved for them by the law.
In a quick reaction to the development in Port Harcourt yesterday, the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, hinted that the CP had directed the arrest and prosecution of defaulting vigilante members.
Iringe-Koko further noted that vigilante groups do not have the right to detain suspects in any holding facility; instead should only hand over suspected criminals to the police for investigation.
She also noted that the CP had directed all Divisional Police Officers, DPOs, to arrest any vigilante members seen with arms and go after those who detained suspects.
Iringe-Koko said: “Vigilante members are not licensed to bear arms, and the CP has directed the DPOs within that jurisdiction to arrest any of them seen with arms. Also, they do not have such powers to detain a suspect.”
