Authorities of Anambra Vigilante Group, AVG have frowned at operations of illegal cells or detention facilities of any type in the markets, communities and other places of their operations, warning that any criminal arrested by the AVG operatives must be handed over to the police within a short period of time.
In a communiqué issued by the State Vigilante Supervisory Committee, Senior Zonal Supervisors, Chairmen and State Commanders of AVG at the end of their stakeholders’ meeting hosted by Anambra South Zonal leaders held in Nnewi, the authorities directed that major operations of AVG must be supervised and spearheaded by the police.
At the meeting which was attended by the AVG Senior Supervisor for Anambra Central Senatorial zone, Retd ACP Matthew Uyanna; his Anambra North counterpart, Retd ACP Osegbue and the host Anambra South Supervisor, Anene Onwu, the communiqué hereby exhorted the police to dismantle any illegal cell and bring the operatives to book henceforth.
In the communiqué signed by the Chairman of the State Vigilante Supervisory Committee and Senior Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano on Vigilante Matters, Onwa Ikechukwu Ayo Aduba, a retired Commissioner of Police, Retd. CP, the stakeholders disclosed that the long anticipated training of AVG operatives for improved performances would soon take place.
They also contended that undue reshuffling of recognized AVG personnel that receive monthly stipends from the state government, by traditional rulers and Presidents-General of various communities in the state is unacceptable to the AVG Supervisory Committee, adding that for any reshufflement or inauguration of security committees in any community to be authentic, the AVG headquarters must be notified.
They also harped on due process, adding that both traditional rulers and Presidents-General in the 179 communities are expected to pursue the part of peaceful resolution of conflicts in whatever manner within their domains, stressing that while traditional rulers remain the chairmen of town supervisory committees, the Presidents-General are the secretary.
On wearing of uniforms, the authorities directed all AVG operatives to always be in full uniforms while on duty or during official occasions, adding, “there are two types of uniforms available for the three categories of AVG, namely Category A (community –based), Category B (market-based) and Category C (neighborhood watch).
They commended the Nigeria police for their untiring efforts and supervisory roles so far under the incumbent State Commissioner of Police, Mr. John Abang, even as they urged the general public to always be at alert and furnish AVG with important information about any criminal activity within their vicinity.
They disclosed that AVG website is in the pipeline and would become functional within a short while, just as the last stage of capturing of operatives and executives of all AVG units in the state is presently on-going and charged all units to key into the present exercise.
