Worried by the atrocities of criminals terrorizing residents of Ido Local Government in Oyo State, the vigilante groups in the area have partnered the State Police Command in uncovering hideouts of suspected hoodlums and social miscreants in the locality.
The synergy with the State Police Command had become imperative to curtail the unbearable acts of banditry and criminalities, the Chairman of Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) in Ido Local Government Area, Alhaji Muritala Adekola Ifawale told newsmen in Ibadan over the weekend.
While noting that the vigilante groups had taken the protection of lives and property of the citizenry seriously, the OPC chieftain pleaded profusely with the State Government to accord top priority to security at the grassroots level, through the empowerment of vigilante operatives in the various Local Government areas of the state.
Ifawale explained that the vigilante groups, as collaborative agents with the security operatives, are geared towards enhancing peaceful communal living amongst the residents as provided for under the Civil Liberties Act stressing that they had no plan to hijack the job of the Nigeria Police.
The OPC leader then emphasized the need for continued empowerment of members through effective participation in modern community security workshops and seminars as well as other relevant vocational skills acquisition schemes, urging both the Government and well-meaning members of the society to rise up to the challenge with a view to boosting their morales.
He also sought support for members in the area of Life Assurance scheme to guarantee the socio-economic welfare of their respective families.
