Rivers Governor Urges Police To Tackle Upsurge Of Crime In The State

Gov. Amaechi at the Town hall meeting with Okrika people

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has urged the new Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr Mbu Joseph Mbu, and the Police command to fight the upsurge of criminal activities in the state.

The governor said this on Friday, 15th March, when Mbu paid a courtesy visit with his team to government House.

“I must tell you that 80 per cent of those who commit crime in the state are arrested, so I must commend your officers for that, but I am also aware that there is a little upsurge in crime, and I think we must address it now, if not, those boys, the criminal elements will start coming back again”, Amaechi said.

  

Amaechi after complimenting the Rivers Police force for speedy arrest of criminals in the state also expressed concern over the increase of crime at Omoku, headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government.

He also advised them to lock up two check points at Choba and Egbeda in Obio/Akpor and Emohua Local Government Areas and increase patrol to check the criminal activities there.

Amaechi said that the reason his administration provided fleet of cars; security patrol vehicles and brand new APCs (Armoured Personnel Carriers) recently to the Police Command was to confront and combat crime.

  

Responding, the new Commissioner of Police, Mr Mbu, told Governor Amaechi that his mission for the visit to Government House was to rub minds with the state government on ways to enhance security in the state.

“The sole reason for this visit your Excellency is for me and my team to familiarise ourselves with the polices your government has put in place to bring crime to its barest minimum because I and my team are promising you that we will do our best in making sure that that objective is achieved,” Mbu said.

Mr Mbu pointed out that he was making frantic efforts to fix all dilapidated police vehicles back on the road to effectively monitor and combat crime in the state.

He declared his determination and that of his command in maintaining discipline, in order to achieve set goals and the vision of the current administration in the state.

Mbu sought for the Rivers Government’s help in creating two additional Area Commands to expand the frontiers of Police so as to aggressively combat crime in the state.

Governor Amaechi also promised the people of Okrika Local Government Area that his administration would complete all the projects it has mapped out for the council.

He made the pronouncement during a town hall meeting with the people recently. Amaechi repeated that his administration’s focus was on Health care, Education and infrastructures, saying that Okrika people would not be left out in enjoying what other local government area in the state were enjoying.

The governor said that he was going to develop and upgrade Isaka to a Marine village.

He also promised to construct road and jetty for the community after concluding the project plans with the Council Chairman, Barr. Tamuno Wiliams.

Amaechi calmed the fears of the people who were concerned about shore protection. He said, “Don’t let that worry you because anywhere we sand fill, we will do shore protection.” 

Reacting, the Council Chairman thanked the Governor for creating such an environment for interaction between the governor and the governed. He said that it was a true mark of good leadership.

He also commended the state government for the projects being carried out in the council in the area of Health, new road networks and model educational institution, while asking for more of such projects for the people of the local government.