There was apprehension at Igando/ Ikotun Local Council Development Area LCDA, in Alimosho area of Lagos following the alleged decision of the Council Chairperson, Mrs. Morenike Williams to use local vigilante comprising mainly of native doctors as the council security.
Some council staff alleged that the other conventional and registered securities agencies attached to the Council through the Lagos State Government have reportedly been relegated to the background and abandoned by the Council management.
Thus, the recognised security agencies attached to the Council including the Nigeria Police, DSS, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, VGN, Neighbourhood Watch, Civil Defence and others were now left in the dark as the council had not deemed it fit to assist or mobilise them to work.
P.M.EXPRESS confirmed the development from some Council staff, who said that Mrs. Williams reportedly made it clear to the security agents when she took over. She was alleged to have said that she was only going to recognise and use an unregistered group code named Vigilante Group because of the role they played during the Council elections which ensured her victory.
It was gathered that the group really supported her and did whatever they could for her to win the election. And to pay them back, she recognised and used them as the council security.
A staff of the council who knew too well how the group operated said that though unregistered that they were far better than other security agencies attached and recognised by the state government because of their sophistication and spiritual powers.
It was gathered that the LG boss decided to use the group because she had tested their ability and confirmed it. The group use minor physical weapons but their major strengths were the use of charms, amulets and ‘unseen’ weapons which appeared different and more powerful than that of other security agents.
P.M.EXPRESS gathered that Mrs. Williams might have embraced the group in order to curb the perceived criminal activities in the council among the staff who now tread cautiously on illegal activities because they may be caught by the group led by one Olawole Jahan.
Some of the Council staff who spoke to our correspondent commended Williams for the initiative, while some others outrightly condemned such move as they claimed it was targeted against the Council workers.
P.M.EXPRESS spoke to some of the recognised security agents attached to the council and they expressed their frustration as they claimed that Mrs. Williams had failed to recognise them and had not assisted them in any form. They said that their leaders had made several attempts to reach her in the past but their efforts did not work out as she reportedly snubbed them.
Several efforts made by our correspondent to get the Council boss to speak on the matter were unsuccessful as she did not pick her phone calls and could not be reached. But the said group was seen at the Council secretariat at Ikotun brandishing their charms and amulets within the premises.
It is called black man power, Odioshi