Otti Retires Abia State Vigilante Commander After 21 years In Service

The Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has directed that Mr. Idika Martins, Commander, Abia State Vigilante Services (AVS) proceeds on retirement with immediate effect.

A statement by Prince Okey Kanu, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, said the governor had ordered the revival of the moribund state-owned vigilante group, the Abia State Vigilante Services (AVS), to enhance community policing

To this effect, the government directed Martins to hand over all government property in his possession to the next in command Mr. Kelechi Okereke, who will assume the role of AVS Commander in acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive AVS Commander by government.

The governor thanked Idika Martins for his services to the state and wished him well in all his future endeavors .

The Abia State Vigilante Service formerly (Bakassi Boys) were created in 1998 by traders in Aba who wanted to protect themselves from armed robbers and hoodlums.

Having had success in reducing crime in Aba, the Bakassi Boys became in high demand and their activities spread to other cities in eastern Nigeria

According to 2004 and 2005 reports, the vigilante group is active in the southeastern states of Imo, Abia, and Anambra

The Bakassi Boys are officially called the Imo Vigilante Services (IVS), the Abia Vigilante Services (AVS), and the Anambra Vigilante Services (AVS)