Issele-Azagba Attack: Delta Govt Reaffirms Partnership With Vigilante Groups

Delta State Government has said that it will continue to partner and support the synergy between vigilante groups and security agencies to enhance the security of lives and properties in the state.

It stated that the synergy that existed between the bodies was yielding positive results for the people of the state.

The State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu stated this on Wednesday at Onicha-Ugbo, while addressing newsmen on the sideline of the Delta State Strategic Executive Retreat 2019.

He commended the gallantry displayed by a vigilante group in Issele-Azagba which foiled a kidnap attempt at a secondary school in the community on Monday.

Aniagwu assured that the state government will continue to encourage partnership and collaboration between vigilante groups and security agencies for effective policing.

“Let me tell you that His Excellency, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is very impressed with the gallantry put up by the local vigilante at Issele-Azagba.

“People will say why don’t government put security in the schools, but you will also agree that kidnapping can take place anywhere even at homes, and so we are interested in the overall security of every part of the state and I must tell you that our collaboration with the local vigilantes in the state is a step in the right direction.

“We hope to continue to strengthen them because what has happened has shown that the collaboration of vigilante groups and other security outfits is a good decision and we will stay on course with that right decision as it is yielding desired results.

“We will continue to empower them to make them more capable with a view to ensuring they play a more important role in our quest to ensure a more secured and peaceful state,” he said.

It would be recalled that armed men suspected to be fulani herdsmen had stormed Azagba Mixed Secondary School on Monday morning in a black Sports Utility Vehicle, abducted six teachers but later whisked four away while others escaped with bullet wounds.

Fortunately, the four teachers were rescued through the efforts of vigilantes and the Police, but two among are currently undergoing treatment at FMC Asaba due to gun shot injuries sustained during the attack.

The Issele-Azagba community Vigilante had claimed that they rescued seven persons, including the teachers that were shot while one of the students that ran into the bush was found, a member of locals who engaged in the rescue lost his life.

One of the teachers later rescued on Monday night died at the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba. A team of doctors at the FMC had battled to save the life of the teacher simply identified as Mr Oriahi, but died on Tuesday morning after under-going surgery to remove the bullet that pierced through his stomach.