Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have reportedly arrested six leaders of the Enugu State vigilant group otherwise known as Neighbourhood Watch in Akpawfu community, Nkanu East Local Government Area of the state.
SaharaReporters gathered on Saturday that the arrest of the personnel had forced residents of the community to start deserting their homes as many also relocated their family members to the state capital and neighbouring communities.
The security men who were reportedly arrested on Thursday, during a routine meeting with the police at the Agbani Area Command, include the Chief Security Officer of the Community, Chineme Amuziem Nwatu; Goddy Nnaji in charge of operation; Onyeka Nnaji, Godwin Nnaji, Monday Nnamani and Friday Nnamani.
Akpawfu has been the operational base of bandits, who had since forced the people of the community to flee with several persons, particularly community leaders and vigilante personnel's killed and dozens of houses burnt, while schools, churches and markets were shut for almost one year in the community until the constitution of the local vigilantes.
SaharaReporters had reported that the community in fighting back the hoodlums, had assembled some of their youths, who volunteered to work as vigilante men, by helping the army and other security agencies to fish out the bandits.
While normalcy started returning to the community, the villagers were hit with the news of the arrest of the vigilante men by the operatives of the Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Abuja during a routine meeting with the police at the Area Command, Agbani.
Expressing the concerns of the people of the community, the traditional ruler of Ajame Ameze Akpawfu Autonomous Community, Igwe Christopher Nnamani said he and the people of the community were shocked at the news of the arrest of the security men by the police even without any information as to offence committed by them.
He said that the security men had the recognition of the state government and the various security agencies in the state, lamenting that the little gains the community and the army had so far made might be disrupted with the arrest of the security men without any reason adduced to the arrest.
He said, "immediately after the news of their arrest filtered in, a minibus filled with men came to the operational base of the security men in the village, shouting their names and making the usual threats. So, we're completely not at ease over the arrest because we don't know what will happen next now that they have disorganized the local security in the village".
The monarch narrated the incident thus: "We have been facing serious security challenges in the past two years, but the event of Thursday, June 22 made me to shed tears. This is because as we are recovering from the insecurity situation in Akpawfu following the introduction of vigilante operatives, the situation started calming down with government security being able to have access to our community once again, culminating in the army finally settling in Akpawfu.
"So, after the army had settled in our place, they invited me and we took them round the villages, appealing to our people to inform their fleeing families that peace is returning. I also called on my people who have fled their homes to return home.
"Our security outfit that helped to return the peace is working with the army and police. The Divisional Police Officer of Nkanu East, had scheduled a meeting with our vigilante men today, Friday June 23, ahead of the final peace meeting in the community on Saturday, June 24.
"Yesterday being Thursday, June 22, my CSO informed me that the DPO invited them to a meeting at Agbani Area Command. I gave five of them the permission to go and also reminded them about the meeting on Friday with the police.
"But, to my greatest shock, as they got to Agbani, I was told that some policemen came from Abuja and handcuffed them to be taken to Abuja.
"I went to the state CID but couldn't find them. I also went to report to the commissioner of police, but he was not on seat. So, I called him later and he said he was aware of the officers from Force Headquarters. I later learned that they came from the Special Fraud Unit (SFU).
"As I'm talking to you, I have not seen the Abuja officers and I have not seen our security operatives. I was at the state police command headquarters but they gave me the impression that the vigilante men had been whisked to Abuja. None of them agreed that they were still in Enugu.”
He called on the state government and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to release the men to return to their duty post to avoid further damage to the security of the community.
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters’ efforts to speak with the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, were unsuccessful as he didn't take his calls.
Also, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Ammani, didn't take his calls when contacted on telephone on Saturday evening.