Arrest of Vigilante Members in Ogun State: VGN petitions Police Complaints Response Unit, Force Headquarters

By: Kingsley Omonobi

Following what it described as the illegal arrest of its members in Ogun State by the Police after they intercepted a suspected Indian Hemp dealer in Ijebu Ode and handed him over to NDLEA, with exhibits, the Vigilante Group of Nigeria VGN has petitioned the Police Compliant Response Unit at Force headquarters Abuja alleging misconduct, extortion and mischief among others.

According to the petition signed by Dr Johnson Oyewole, and C.J Okereke, when the Vigilante members arrested the Indian Hemp dealer and handed him over the the National Drug Agency, the Police at Ijebu Ode were not comfortable, as they had wanted the suspect handed over to them, hence the DPO, Obalende Police Station ordered the arrest of the Vigilante members.

The petition addressed to the Head of CRU Force Headquarters said, “The crux of the matter happened sometimes on 31st day of January, 2026 when members of the Rapid Response Squad of the Vigilante
Group of Nigeria intercepted one Mr. Sodiq, a notorious Indian hemp dealer
operating under the umbrella name and style of Private Security Guard and
handed over him to the N.D.L.E.A of Ijebu-Ode office.

“The D.P.O of Obalende Police Division was not comfortable with that and our members were not under his jurisdiction in Ijebu-Ode. As such, he grew annoyed and mobilized his men led by an Inspector who invaded the VGN office and forcefully destroyed their doors, and removed office equipment and operational materials of VGN on the 2nd February, 2026.

“Ghey further arrested the following
personnel of VGN, Mr. Dayo Azeez, Mr. Michael Monday, Mr. Emmanuel Idowu, Mr. Emmanuel David, Mr. Folake Agbo, Miss Salau Titilayo
and detained them in their custody for few days before transferring them to
SWAT Base Imagbon, Abeokuta where they were received by CSP Murfy Salami, the Commander of the SWAT Base. who without any justification commenced torturing, assault, brutalized and detained the male
and released the two female to some Police Officers

The petition stated that the male VGN members were subjected to rigorous and
unlawful treatment for three (3) weeks in detention without a trial, neither with
a Court order adding that one “Comrade Shina Samuel, the leader of the R.R.S who was not
available during the arrest went to seek for bail of the detainees, was equally arrested, detained, tortured and forced to make statement and to admitted liability.

Also, one Mr. Michael Monday who had refused to implicate himself was tortured and slapped severally which has resulted to his partial deafness while blood was gushing out from his right ear and unable to hear
perfectly since then till date.

“As that is not enough, the said SWAT officers further went to the VGN office,
arrested the landlord of the building, one High Chief Kamorundeen Arole, threatened him with detention after obtaining his statement and eventually extorted him with a sum of money for his bail before he was let go.

“But few weeks later, he protested and the said money was returned back to him
through the Police Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Police Command, Abeokuta, thereby establishing the ingredient of the extortion, illegal arrest, misconduct against the aforesaid officers.”

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