Di local vigilantes wey volunteer to secure dia communities for Delta state

Security na very big issue for Nigeria, from kidnapping to cultism and armed robbery, banditry and odas.

And wit just ova 370,000 police officers for di kontri, e clear say e go hard for dem to secure di pipo wit 250 million population.

Though police dey try dia best to secure di kontri wit di collaboration of oda security agencies, e no still dey enof to manage crime.

Di believe be say for many of di crimes wey dey happun, na for inside communities di criminals dey hide bifor dem come outside come carry out dia attacks.

Na dis one carry BBC News Pidgin enta Ogwashi-Ukwu for Delta state Nigeria. Dis na one of di many communities for di 774 local govment areas of di kontri.

Di community come under very serious attacks by kidnappers, bandits, and even armed robbers recently. Incidents wey don make many pipo comot from di community.

Victor Okeleke, a kidnap victim say im spend up to five days for bush afta jaguda pipo gbab dem just few days afta Christmas in 2024.

E narrate im experience wia e tell BBC News Pidgin say, "Dem threaten to kill us say our pipo dey offer dem 10 million naira. Dat dem get pipo wey go fit buy our bodi parts above dat value."

E add say, "Dem warn say make we no reason to run, dat if you wan run, you dey free to run. But dis place no get mortuary or shovel for grave, no coffin dey. If you try run, anywia bullet meet you, na your grave be dat".

Di experience of pipo oga Okeleke na wetin make some leaders and members of di community assemble a group of men to secure di area.

Many of dem na volunteers wey decide to come togeda and protect dia community.

Na diz men become local vigilantes wey begin collabo wit security agencies to begin fight crime.

Commander of di viligante group for Ogwashi-Ukwu, Henry Azimo tok about dia operations and how dem take rescue di family of a former council chairman.

"We call di den commander of one vigilante wey dem dey call Edu vigilante tok say na exit to di express and we get informate say dem dey pass dia so we ask make dem go block di road", na so e tok.

"Na so dem park dia motor run enta bush, we pursue dem arrest like two pipo and na like dat we take rescue di den council chairman wife and two pikin".

But while di jaguda pipo dey carry better ammunition, di vigilante no dey equipped enof to tackle dem.

Infact, e get di kain gun wey dem must carry and police must approve am.

Bright Edafe, tok-tok pesin for di Delta state police command tok say, "local vigilante na dem know dia area. Na dem know di koro wey dey for inside dia community. Even wen kidnappers dey hide for inside bush, dis vigilante na dem dey fit carry police sef say na hia, all dis pipo fit hide."

But e drop warning say, "we still dey advice dem say if you know say you be vigilante, always partner wit your DPO bicos anytin wey sup, na your DPO go still comot say, na my vigilante be dis o, na dem dey help us fight crime".