The Commissioner of Police in Delta State, Yemi Oyeniyi, has warned against unlawful detention, torture, dehumanising treatment and the use of their organisations to settle personal disputes.

Oyeniyi gave the warning on Wednesday 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 across the state.

The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations and other members of the command’s management team.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, the Commissioner of Police stressed that the activities of all security outfits must be carried out strictly within the law and in collaboration with the police.

He said, “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.”

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.

He said, “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.”

Oyeniyi further charged leaders of the security outfits to maintain discipline within their ranks.

He said, “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.”

Reaffirming the command’s commitment to working with genuine security partners, Oyeniyi said the engagement would be extended across the state.

He added, “The engagement will be sustained and replicated across the local government areas to strengthen coordination, intelligence sharing and grassroots security across Delta State.”