Arrest of VGN Members in Ogun State: VGN Appeals to Police Complaints Response Unit and Force Headquarters

By: Kingsley Omonobi

The Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) has filed a petition with the Police Complaints Response Unit (CRU) at Force headquarters in Abuja. The petition alleges that VGN members were illegally arrested in Ogun State after they intercepted a suspected Indian hemp dealer in Ijebu Ode and handed him over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). VGN claims the arrests were a result of police misconduct, extortion and other unlawful actions.

The petition, signed by Dr. Johnson Oyewole and C.J. Okereke, states that when VGN members seized the suspect and transferred him to the NDLEA office in Ijebu Ode, the local police were dissatisfied because they had intended to take custody of the suspect. According to the petition, the DPO of Obalende Police Station ordered the arrest of the VGN members.

The petition addressed to the head of the CRU at Force headquarters reads:

“The core incident occurred on 31 January 2026 when members of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria intercepted Mr. Sodiq, a known Indian hemp dealer operating under the guise of a private security guard, and handed him over to the NDLEA office in Ijebu Ode.”

“The DPO of Obalende Police Division was uncomfortable with this action, as the VGN members were not under his jurisdiction in Ijebu Ode. Consequently, the DPO mobilized officers led by an inspector who entered the VGN office, forcibly removed their doors, and confiscated office equipment and operational materials on 2 February 2026.”

“The inspector subsequently arrested several VGN personnel – Mr. Dayo Azeez, Mr. Michael Monday, Mr. Emmanuel Idowu, Mr. Emmanuel David, Mr. Folake Agbo, and Miss Salau Titilayo – detaining them for a few days before transferring them to the SWAT Base in Imagon, Abeokuta. There, they were received by CSP Murfy Salami, the commander of the SWAT Base, who allegedly subjected the male detainees to torture, assault and brutal treatment, while the two female detainees were released to police officers.”

The petition claims that the male VGN members were held for three weeks without trial or a court order. It also states that “Comrade Shina Samuel, the leader of the RRS who was not present at the time of the arrest, was arrested, detained, tortured and forced to make a statement admitting liability.”

It further alleges that Mr. Michael Monday, who refused to implicate himself, was repeatedly slapped, resulting in partial deafness and ongoing hearing loss. Blood was reportedly gushing from his right ear during the incident.

“In addition, SWAT officers went to the VGN office, arrested the building’s landlord, High Chief Kamorundeen Arole, threatened him with detention after obtaining his statement, and extorted a sum of money for his bail before releasing him. Weeks later, Chief Arole protested, and the money was returned to him through the Police Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Police Command in Abeokuta, thereby demonstrating extortion, illegal arrest and misconduct by the officers.”

The post “Arrest of Vigilante Members in Ogun State: VGN petitions Police Complaints Response Unit, Force Headquarters” first appeared on Vanguard News.