Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Commissioner of Police in Delta State, Yemi Oyeniyi, has issued a stern warning to all security outfits operating across the state, cautioning them against unlawful detention, torture, dehumanising treatment, and the use of their organisations to settle personal disputes. The police chief gave the warning on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, during a strategic security meeting with Divisional Police Officers, patrol and guard officers, leaders of vigilante groups, forest guards, and other recognised civil security outfits in Asaba. The meeting, which was also attended by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations and other members of the command's management team, was convened to strengthen coordination and enhance grassroots security across Delta State.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, the Commissioner stressed that the activities of all security outfits must be carried out strictly within the law and in collaboration with the police. "Your operations must be conducted strictly within the law and coordinated with the Police. At the local level, your activities should be streamlined under the respective Divisional Police Officers because effective community policing depends on collaboration, sustained patrols and timely intelligence sharing," Oyeniyi said. The police commissioner directed the security outfits to intensify intelligence gathering and sustain patrols of forests, rural communities and critical access routes, including roads, waterways, railway corridors and bush paths, to curb criminal activities across the state.
Oyeniyi also cautioned members of the security outfits against violating the rights of members of the public, emphasising that persons arrested must be promptly handed over to the nearest police station. "Security outfits must not be used to settle personal scores or engage in unlawful detention, torture or dehumanising treatment," he declared. The Commissioner further charged leaders of the security outfits to maintain discipline within their ranks, warning that the police would not tolerate any individual or group operating outside the law. "Leaders of these outfits must discipline their members, identify and remove criminal or errant elements from their ranks, and refrain from shielding anyone who acts outside the law," Oyeniyi said.
The warning comes amid growing concerns over the conduct of vigilante groups and other non-conventional security outfits in Delta State, where incidents of unlawful detention and torture have been reported in the past. In February 2026, a previous Commissioner of Police had similarly warned vigilante groups that they have no legal authority to detain suspects, directing that any person apprehended must be immediately handed over to the nearest police station for lawful processing. The latest directive reinforces the command's zero-tolerance stance on human rights abuses by security personnel and reflects a broader push for accountability in policing practices across Nigeria.
Reaffirming the command's commitment to working with genuine security partners, Oyeniyi said the engagement would be extended across the state. "The engagement will be sustained and replicated across the local government areas to strengthen coordination, intelligence sharing and grassroots security across Delta State," he added. The CP also commended vigilante groups and other local security outfits for supporting the police in safeguarding lives and property but insisted that all their operations must be carried out strictly within the confines of the law. He directed that the activities of the various security outfits at the grassroots be coordinated through the respective Divisional Police Officers to enhance community policing, improve information sharing and ensure effective operational control.
The directive comes as security agencies across Nigeria face increasing scrutiny over allegations of torture and unlawful detention, with human rights organisations documenting numerous incidents of abuse by security operatives. The Anti-Torture Act 2017 explicitly prohibits torture as a criminal offence, with no exceptions or justifications. By warning security outfits against unlawful detention and torture, the Delta State Police Command has signalled its determination to ensure that all security operations are conducted within the bounds of the law and with due respect for the rights of all citizens. As the engagement is replicated across local government areas, residents can expect improved coordination, enhanced intelligence sharing, and a stronger grassroots security architecture across Delta State.
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