Desist from jungle justice, Delta CP tells youths

The Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Wale Abass, on Tuesday warned the youth across the state to desist from jungle justice, which he described as barbaric, apart from being an act of self-help.

He gave the warning at a media briefing during which he listed the Command’s achievements within the third quarter of the year, spanning July 1 to the end of September 2023.

According to the CP, “Jungle justice festers a circle of violence and lawlessness, thereby sabotaging the prospect of protecting the victims’ fundamental human rights.

“In several instances, victims of self-help are attacked based on frivolous allegations without being allowed access to fair hearing.

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“The Command will no longer tolerate this human rights abuse, as anyone who engages in such practice will be identified, fished out and dealt with according to the law.”

The Commissioner of Police disclosed that during the period under review, operatives of Delta State Police Command arrested a total of 13 kidnappers, 7 armed robbers and 72 cultists.

Also, the Command rescued unhurt 9 kidnapped victims just as it recovered 54 firearms, 286 ammunition and 195 cartridges within the period.

While noting that the achievements became possible following the Command’s keying to the vision and mission of the Acting Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, as relayed at the strategic police managers conference on June 23, 2023, the Police Commissioner disclosed that part of his first major shake-up in the Command was the redeployment of the then Divisional Police Officer at Ovwian Aladja to Ekpan owing to the volatile nature of that area.

“Ekpan, which used to be a troubled area, is now very safe, and residents can now go about their lawful businesses,” he said.

The CP stated that within September,  he directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations to embark on an on-the-spot assessment of Jesse Road, where kidnapping gradually became the order of the day.

“Consequently, security strategies were reviewed, culminating in deploying the DOPS Buffalo team, tactical teams and the Command’s Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber-Crime Squad to the area.

“The strategy paid out as within few days of its emplacement, some suspected kidnappers were arrested while a good number of Assault rifles were recovered.”

The police boss commended the Delta State Government for its unwavering support of the Command.

In the same vein, he paid glowing tributes to the various sister security agencies for their continuous collaboration with the Command, adding that his indebtedness also goes to residents who have continued to support the Command by providing practical, timely and credible information.