"We condemn in strong terms the preference of a government in setting up a militia group over supporting the constitutionally approved security agencies. This inordinate preferential act is greatly suspicious and tantamount to causing further breakdown in security in the state," the statement read.
The Ikwerre Youth Movement (IYM) International has commended the Nigerian Army for shutting down the Rivers State Neighbourhoods Watch Corps.
A statement by the group stressed that they were "never in support" of the setting up of such corps.
They urged the state government to focus on addressing insecurity in the state, rather than the "clandestine training of 3,050 persons".
The statement read: "We commend the men of the Nigerian Army for their timely intervention. We also want to call on the Chief of Army Staff to order similar sting operations around the forests in the Ikwerre and Emohua Local Government Areas where criminality is almost becoming a norm due to negligence on the side of the present state government.
"We condemn in strong terms the preference of a government in setting up a militia group over supporting the constitutionally approved security agencies. This inordinate preferential act is greatly suspicious and tantamount to causing further breakdown in security in the state.
"It is a verifiable fact that none of our registered members were recruited into the Corps and we strongly dissociate our organization and members from such clandestine and treasonous process.
"IYM, however, wants the state government to pay more attention to issues that border on the welfare and security of our people, rather than frivolous activities. The government should step in and end the killings and kidnapping around the Ikwerre hinterlands. The loss of over four thousand (4,000) persons should be more important to the state than the clandestine training of 3,050 persons."