By CJ IKhiede E.I
The vigilante group of Ekosodin, Benin city, Edo state, on Saturday December 3, held a meeting with the community traders, landlords and students in a bid to discuss the security issues bordering Ekosodin community.
The meeting which was slated to begin by 8am Saturday, Dec 3, 2022 had in attendance, concerned indigenes and occupants of Ekosodin village, who discussed several security issues with the vigilante group. As the floor opened for questions, a student asked why vigilante officials are not seen on the streets at night. A member of the vigilante body answered, saying that they can’t be everywhere and that they don’t necessarily need to be in their uniforms or announce their arrival, but they are there.
A prominent member of the security body admonished every member of the community to be watchful and always alert to things that seem absurd. For instance, if a stranger walks into a house and is seen, assumptions should not be made on whether he came to visit a tenant but he should be walked up to and questioned; he said.
An Ekosodin shop owner asked about what the vigilantes are doing about the happenings around Ekosodin’s boundary area. An officer responded, saying that the said area is not in their jurisdiction and the to attend to issues concerning that area as it is in another community. However, they promise to try to do something about it soon.
A woman told the vigilante to please do something about the truck pushers seen in Ekosodin, that they push trucks in disguise to steal. Then the prominent member answered again and said that the solution is still in the hands of the community at large. He mentioned that whenever something unusual is noticed, assumptions should not be made but actions should be taken; walk up to them and query them on how they got the things in their truck.
Also, a prominent member, who is perceived to be the leader of the vigilante group mandated that students who are planning any party of any kind are to collect a pass from the vigilante’s office before hosting parties.
Furthermore, he reminded everyone of the stipulated closing time – 10 pm for cab and tricycle drivers, 8 pm for motorcycle riders, 11 pm for shop owners. It was also stated that anyone caught defaulting will be punished respectively – #11,500 for shop owners and 2 months police detention for motorists.
Parents and guardians were also charged to watch over their children. He said more force will be charged toward secondary schools in Ekosodin. The reason being that a secondary school boy was reported to have stolen his grandmother’s one hundred and sixty-four thousand naira and spent it in one week. He said that any child caught with any criminal activities will be dealt with.
With this, a joint closing prayer was taken immediately, bringing the meeting to a close at around 9:40 am.
A P.O.S shop owner who was interviewed, gave his thoughts about the meeting. He said he loved the idea of the security group wanting to listen to the people. He added that it is a step closer to curbing criminal activities in Ekosodin.
At the close of the meeting, shops that were opened during the period of the meeting were locked for violating the instructions of not opening stores and shops during that time. This surely is a sign of security revolution in Ekosodin as everyone is employed to adhere to rules, otherwise face punishments.
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