Security: Rivers Govt join forces with local communities

Border Communities in Omuma and Oyigbo Local Government Areas of Rivers State have agreed to partner with the state government and security agencies to check the infiltration of hoodlums from neighbouring states.

This was part of the decisions reached at separate meetings held at Eberi in Omuma Local Government Area and Afam in Oyigbo Local Government Area which was attended by stakeholders in the area, the State Government and Service Commanders in the State.

The Communities who have agreed to form alliance within their localities, and provide information to security agencies to help track both the local collaborators and infiltrators from neighbouring states, in the event of any criminal activities.

As a proactive response to the situation, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has directed the deployment of more troops to the affected local government areas to boost their chosen resolve to fight crime, while people of the areas has been urged to call the state emergency number 112 in the event of any suspicion, for prompt security response.

Governor Amaechi, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Magnus Abe, said the state government was aware of the security challenges the people are going through and has decided to bring the situation under control.

The governor, who said criminal activities in other parts of the state have reduced drastically called on Omuma and Oyigbo people to work collectively with the security operatives in their localities to address the issues squarely.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, who said it was the responsibility of government to ensure the security of lives and property, noted that to achieve this, the people must provide useful information for the security agencies to succeed.

Mr Abba commended the state governor for the support given to security agencies in the state, adding that in his years of experience in the service, the support of the state government towards security agencies was yet to be rival by any other state in Nigeria.

While reacting to the request for a naval base to police the waterways in the boarder Communities, the Naval Commander, NNS Pathfinder, Commodore U. K. Ahmed said his Command would take steps to police the area.

Some stakeholders from the two local government areas commended the state government for what they called a proactive measure to check crime in their localities, and called on the people to rise to the task of exposing hideout of hoodlums in their various communities.