Though there was a series of reports about the group's notoriety, their activities continued without investigation. Instead, residents said the group got police backing for their atrocities.
The Lagos State House of Assembly is pushing for a ban on the Community Policing Youth Vanguard, set up by the Area E Police Commander, ACP Dan Okoro.
A Lagos State House Committee set up to investigate the conflict between the Local Council Chairman, Mr. Ayo Adewale, and the Area Commander, ACP Dan Okoro of the Festac Town, has submitted its report. The report, which has now been submitted to the Lagos Assembly for onward deliberation clearly implicates the group and recommends an outright ban of it.
The Community Policing Youth Vanguard was set up by Okoro, with said objective of assisting the police with investigations in crimes. However, the group is said to be lending itself instead for thuggery in the local area. Members of the gang have been alleged of independently engaging in robbery activities, rape, and violent attack of residents under the guise of collaborating with the Police.
Independent investigation by our correspondent indicates that the formation of the Community Policing Youth Vanguard was in fact for a major political opposition party, which planned to use the group for mischief in the 2015 State election. The group is said to be bent on setting up a "parallel government" and willingly giving itself for use against the ruling party to destabilize the Local Government and to spread its tentacles across the State, subsequently.
A member of the Committee, who confirmed submission of their report to the State House of Assembly, Mr. Saltan Adeniji Adele, told our correspondent that their recommendation in the report included penalizing the group for illegal adoption of the state seal to make the public believe that they have the authority of the State. For both setting up the group and his unauthorized use of Lagos State Government's seal, Okoro was also accused of criminal intent.
Part of the face-off between Okoro and the Local Council Chairman was occasioned by the Area Commander's brazen escort of some trucks to ply restricted roads for some fees. The road was said to be restricted from use by trucks due to maintenance reasons, but Okoro opened the road for some trucks and also escorted them against Government order. The alleged impunity had reportedly started the feud between Adewale and the Police Area Commander.
Further, aside from alleged thuggery and unlawful attacks on residents, the Community Policing Youth Vanguard also attacked the Local Council Secretariat recently. In the attack, staff members at the council were injured and some physical Local Government properties were damaged.
On their own part, the Community Policing Youth Vanguard reportedly held a protest against reports of their attack on the council. A Saharareporters correspondent had attempted to obtain their side of the story, or their rationale for the attack, but these attempts were thwarted.
Also, when a correspondent visited the Area E Police Station in the Festac Town, the Area Commander was not in seat. The correspondent called to meet with him for his own side of the story, but he immediately grew rash and asked the reporter to come to his office. When the correspondent arrived, Mr. Okoro again directed him to call the Lagos Police PRO for comments and hung up his phone thereon. He refused other calls from the reporter.
Our correspondent discovered that the House will adopt the resolutions in the committee's report, which would proscribe the Community Policing Youth Vanguard in Amuwo Odofin Local Government area. Further, members of the group, especially their leaders Messrs Onwa, Apase, and Niyi may also be arrested and tried for criminal offences against the State.
Lagos Assembly members will deliberate regarding the report on Monday.
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