H CHAMBER HAILS, BOARDER COMMUNITIES PLAN TO PARTNER GOVT, SECURITY TO CHECK CRIME IN R/S

Engr. Vincent Furo
President PHCCIMA


The Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) has supported the plan by boarder Communities in Omuma and Oyigbo Local Government Areas of Rivers State to partner with the state government and security agencies to check the infiltration of hoodlums from neighbouring states.

In a chat with newsmen, President of the Chamber, Engr Vincent Adonye Kingston Furo (JP) said the infiltration of criminals from border towns has been a source of worry for investors and the business community in the state, expressing confidence that the tripartite partnership between the border communities, state government and security agencies will be monumental to checking the influx of criminals and putting a final stop to the activities of armed bandits who terrorise the state from border towns.

Hear him “the collaboration will be strategic to restoring the confidence of the business community who are under constant fear of the unexpected. Like you have always known Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture is the second largest and active chamber of commerce in Nigeria and has a broad based mission and vision of building and protecting businesses in the state. Hence, it is of paramount concern to see that the state is investment friendly particularly as it concerns security of lives and properties and businesses”.

Engr. Furo similarly requested that the Rivers state government should also as a matter of urgency position a naval base to police the waterways in the boarder Communities as hoodlums also infiltrate from riverine communities to perpetrate all sorts of crime on defenceless innocent people.

It will be recalled that the decisions of government to partner with border communities and security agents to check infiltration of hoodlums was reached at separate meetings held at Eberi in Omuma Local Government Area and Afam in Oyigbo Local Government Area and was attended by stakeholders in the area, the State Government and Service Commanders in the State.

The Communities during the meeting 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, noting that to achieve this, the people must provide useful information for the security agencies to succeed.