Obiaruku: Rights Activists Wants DTSG, Police Command To Review Activities Of Anti-Cult, Vigilantes, Federal Hunters’ Group In Delta

By Daniel Dafe

Rights activist, Comrade (Amb.) Derrick Agberen, has called on the Delta State Government and State Police Command, to review the establishment/activities of the Anti-Cult, Vigilantes, Federal Hunter’s Group in the state.

He said this in a statement made available tommesia houses on Thursday.

In his words: “Words may not suffice to express the heartfelt sorrow that I feel for the passing away of 17 years old, Master Slyvester, as a result of the rascality and recklessness of men of the civilian Anti-Cult group, attached to Obiaruku Police Division.”

Adding: “This sad occurrence took place yesterday, the 27th day of September, 2023, at Obiaruku, Ukwuani LGA of Delta State.”

He recalled how men of the civilian Anti-Cult group, are reported to have chased a youth when he came out of a Pharmacy, and upon running he ran into a wall with his bike, were he became unconscious and gave up the ghost.

Considering the development, he said it has become imperative for the Delta State Command and the State Government to review the activities of the so-called Anti-Cult group since its establishment.

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“As the name implies, one of the main reasons for the establishment of the group was to assist the Nigeria Police Force in the State, Local Governments and Communities on cult related activities, providing relevant informations to the Police, but in recent times, the group has deviated from its core responsibility, thereby playing the roles of the Police, NDLEA, as seen by the public.

“The civilian Anti-Cult group is supposed to be attached, working directly with the Special Anti-Cult Unit(SACU) of the Delta State Police Command in all cases, on issues related to cultism and not given the free hands to do things independently,” he opined.

According to him, It would interest the State Government and the Delta State Police Command to know that these groups mount checkpoints on the roads, vetting vehicle particulars and driver’s license; carrying operations particularly meant for FRSC, NDLEA; arresting suspected members of the public who sell illicit drugs for exchange of money as bail or for settlement, without the Police or NDLEA officers being involved, impounding vehicles, and most of the times, this illegal activities are carried out at Divisional Police Stations within the locality with or without the Police being aware.

He said: “The death of Master Slyvester should set a record straight, on the activities and mode of operations of the Anti-Cult/Federal Haunters group across various part of the State. It should be reviewed or completely disbanded from operating in the State if established rules cannot be upheld by the group and its leaders.”

Furthermore, he called on the state government and Commissioner of Police, Delta state Command, CP Wale Abass, to critically look into the activities of the Anti-Cult group and other civilian security outfits, checkmating their activities/mode of operations, putting a stop to it, as members of the public can no longer tolerate their excesses.