Police, NSCDC Strategise to Combat Crime in Rivers

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt 

The Rivers State Police Command has disclosed that it would strengthen collaborations with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in combating crime and criminalities in the State.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Nwonyi Emeka made the remarks yesterday when the NSCDC Commandant, Basil Igwebueze visited the police boss at the command headquarters, Port-Harcourt.

During the visit, the police commissioner spoke on the salient factors which contributed to the achievements of the Rivers State Police Command under his watch within a very short period he assumed office.

Nwonyi said a holistic approach to security through prompt Intelligence sharing and formidable inter-agency collaborations would definitely enhance effective service delivery, especially in the fulfilment of the statutory mandate of every security outfit.

He said: “There is need to be brothers keeper which takes us to the security slogan: e-s-spirit-de corps. We must engage the communities and all stakeholders to partner with us and other security agencies in combating crime. 

“I want to assure you that relatively the state is calm. So far so good we have been able to put it better than we met it, except for some pockets of kidnap and other vices but we have been able to move into their camp, dislodged them and effected some arrests; we are not going to stop.”

The police commissioner urged him “to join other security agencies to advance peaceful coexistence in Rivers. As I welcome you to Rivers State, I advice you to employ all strategies to pursue your core mandate and also collaborate with the police so that unanimously we can face out crime and criminalities in Rivers State.

“This is because the federal government has so much trust in us just as the public reposes much confidence in all security agencies. We must shun Inter-Agency rivalries, most especially amongst the rank and file in order to achieve the same goal of Protection of lives and property of the good people of Rivers State.

“There is need to build a confidential approach to handling information received from the public, two good heads are better than one and security is everybody’s business. We must use the modern technological system in fighting crime and above all Intelligence.”

The police boss, however, thanked the Inspector General of Police for supporting the Nigeria Police in the State with strategic forces and logistics and further appreciated the State government for creating a security friendly environment with a proactive approach to supporting the security agencies. 

In his remarks, the NSCDC commandant, Basil Igwebueze lauded the police commissioner for making up time to visit the command, noting that the words of advice and security tips aforementioned would not be taken for granted.

He said: “In the area of synergy, I cannot overemphasise the fact that the relationship between the Police and Civil Defence in terms of contributions to attain the overall goal of maintaining security of lives and property is a formidable one and can hardly be overstressed. 

“The police have always attended to our needs and we will not relent to continue to share some vital Intelligence Information with them because they have the superior fire power in terms of kinetic ability to combat crime.

“We will support mostly with vital intelligence because we are much at the grass root thus, if we continue to reinforce this relationship and contributing towards security by way of acquisition of vital intelligence information needed and appropriated to the Police, they would be in a better position in alliance with Civil Defence and other Security Agencies to ensure we toll a part where peace and order would reign.”

Igwebueze said the administration of the NSCDC Commandant-General, Dr Ahmed Audi has often made personnel capacity building a pivotal mandate, hence, organising training and re-training programs would enhance the capacity and overall performance of officers and men in both security agencies.

He affirmed the command’s readiness to embrace the hand of fellowship already extended by the police commissioner, saying the various expertise opinions would be appropriately utilised.