Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has donated 64 Patrol Vans to the Rivers State Police Command and other Security Agencies today, in Port Harcourt.Governor Wike handed over these vehicles to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to officially commission and disburse to other security stakeholders.
The State Chief Executive said “The most important role for any responsible government is the security of lives and property”. He said crime and criminality led to the accumulation and proliferation of small arms in the state, which were being used by unpatriotic and undesirable elements to commit crimes and wreak havoc in all parts of the state.
He blamed the previous administration for politicizing the issue of security in the state.
Governor Wike said his administration has appraised the police and other security agencies in the areas of mobility, visibility, intelligence gathering and motivation and saw the need to provide the patrol vehicles.
“We are today, formally presenting a total of 64 high utility vans fitted with modern communication gadgets to the State Police Command and other security agencies. The Joint Taskforce will have 34 of these vehicles, while the Police Command alone will have 30”, the governor said.
The governor said he hoped the vehicles will help in providing effective regular patrols, and visibility fir the police and other security outfits in providing security to all parts of the state.
Governor Wike announced that his administration had a reward package for police informants and security personnel who die in the line of duty.
“Accordingly, five million naira will be paid to the family of any person who loses his or her life in the course of their duties in fighting armed robbers and cult guys in the state, secondly, one million naira shall be paid to any person who provides useful information to the police and other security agents that lead to the arrests of armed robbers, kidnappers and cultists operating in the state”, he disclosed.
He said he also had approved a proposal by the State Security Council to hold a security summit before the end of August in Port Harcourt.
The governor envisaged that the planned security summit would create an efficient programme that would enable the police and other security agents in the state enhance their intelligence gathering, crime detection and busting capabilities.
Wike urged the police to carry the public along when discharging their duties of crime fighting.
The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, who paid the governor a courtesy call, said “with the donation of these vehicles, it is apparent that the security architecture of Rivers state would be redefined”.
He noted that the post-election issues, which bedeviled the state a few months ago, had dwindled considerably. He also said that he had convinced the Commissioner of Police and his men to extend the one month state of emergency by another month, also noting that the traffic situation in the state had improved.
The IGP’s entourage was made up of officers of the Army, Navy, Air force, SSS, Police, Prisons, Immigration, Road Marshalls and other high ranking Police Officers. Mr Arase enjoined men of the Rivers State Police Command to uphold and protect the rights of citizens of Rivers State.
Also responding was the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike who lauded the generosity of Governor Wike. He said “we are witnessing His Excellency’s impetus in fighting crime and criminality in Rivers State.”
He noted that before now, the situation in Rivers State was worrisome and added that the governor’s resolve to alleviate the security issues in the state had started yielding dividends.
Mr Ezike said that state government’s largesse would achieve increased confidence of the citizen in the police.
The Commissioner of Police remarked that the vehicles were additional logistics to help fight criminals in the state.
“Your intervention is responsive, people-oriented, it shows your passion to deal with this matter and it is a major bold step. It is a warning to criminals that your best in this matter is yet to come”, Mr Ezike emphasized.
