The Delta State Commissioner of Police, Yemi Oyeniyi, has directed Divisional Police Officers, patrol and guard officers, vigilante groups, forest guards and other recognised local security outfits to intensify intelligence gathering and comb forests and other vulnerable areas across the state to curb criminal activities.
The directive was issued on Wednesday during a strategic security meeting held at the Delta State Police Command headquarters with patrol and guard officers from police divisions across the state, leaders of vigilante groups, forest guards and members of other recognised civil security outfits.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations and other members of the Command’s management team.
Speaking at the meeting, Oyeniyi said security operatives must sustain patrols of forests, rural communities and critical access routes, including roads, waterways, railway corridors and bush paths, to prevent criminal elements from using them as hideouts.
The police commissioner commended the various security outfits for their contributions to maintaining peace and security but stressed that all operations must be carried out within the confines of the law and in collaboration with the police.
He directed that the activities of vigilante groups and other local security outfits be coordinated by Divisional Police Officers in their respective jurisdictions, noting that effective community policing depends on collaboration, regular patrols and prompt intelligence sharing.
Oyeniyi also warned against unlawful detention, torture, dehumanising treatment and the use of security outfits to settle personal disputes.
He instructed that all suspects arrested by vigilante groups or other local security outfits must be handed over immediately to the nearest police station for investigation and possible prosecution.
The CP further urged leaders of the security outfits to discipline their members, identify and remove criminal or errant elements within their ranks and avoid shielding anyone found to have acted outside the law.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to partnering with genuine community security stakeholders within the framework of the law, adding that similar engagements would be replicated across the state’s local government areas to strengthen coordination, intelligence sharing and grassroots security.
