The Duke (Enogie) of Eyaen, His Royal Highness Osazuwa Aiwerioghene Iduriase in Uhunmwode Local Government Area has urged the State Government to properly screen persons being recruited as members of vigilante groups in the State.

He also tasked the Government to fulfil her electoral promises, particularly the deplorable roads, flooding and blockage of the water channel by unauthorized land developers in the neighbouring Community as the wet season sets in.

He made the submission at a courtesy call by the leadership of Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council at his palace in the Local Government Area of the State where he tasked journalists on objective and balanced reportage.

The traditional ruler said the operations of the vigilante groups as constituted is not only appalling, but falls short of public expectations arising from lack of background checks and reports of alleged extortions from property developers and other lawful residents in the State.

“So, I am advising and also appealing to the state government and law enforcement agencies to watch carefully before any member can be giving the authority to go about with gun.

“Not all the personnel recruited are vigilante. Recruiting members into vigilante without appropriate screening. A member of a vigilante ought to have come with a surety or be recommended by the traditional ruler, village head, head of Community and head of street to the Divisional Police Officers or the Area Commander or Commissioner of police for appropriate documentation and recommendation”, he said.

Iduriase admitted however that the vigilance groups in collaboration with security agents have helped in crime reduction, with a charge on Nigerians to support the security agencies for effective service delivery.

According to him, “A group of persons who form themselves or calling themselves vigilante here in our Community, we have seen them trying to extort money from developers in the Community, harassing them with guns.

They called themselves vigilante. This has already been reported to the police station. properly screen them.

“Before I could recommend a person to be recruited into vigilante I must have know about the person’s background and history. If any vigilante member happens to commit crime you will know where to trace the vigilante member to. Just bringing anybody in the name of security in the town is not safe for the people.

“I want to encourage you to do more and ask our governments to do all that they promises. Let them fill all the promised made during the electioneering campaigns as the rain season is set in.

“I want to an appeal that you should focus on our government. Let them know that we all know our right. Let them know that you can remember them on their promises while they were campaigning. Now rainy season is fast approaching majority of the areas that are presently motorable within a short period from now such areas will no longer be motorable again.

“You won’t be able to drive out or go into your Street because there is no erosion control. That is what some members of the Community are against what I am doing. Both the foot path and road wide enough for vehicle is the same thing during the rainy season because water must finds its way.

“Without my authority some persons went to cover moat of a very long distance simply because I travelled. I was not in the Country, they take advantage of it and blocked the moat and sell it to developers. I am using this opportunity to advise the state government to look at it properly. It is an abomination. You don’t cover moat because it is easier to channel water to and let the water goes its level”, he lamented.

Earlier in a remark, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of NUJ, Edo State Council, Comrade Nefishetu Yakubu, commended the traditional ruler for attracting development to the area and ensuing that there is peace in his domain.

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