The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, has reiterated the resolve of the Nigeria Police to wipe out cultists, armed robbers and kidnappers from Rivers State.
The police boss stated this in reaction to the on-going battle between officers of the Rivers State Police Command and hoodlums across the state, stressing that the police would redouble its effort in ensuring that the miscreants are arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.
Arase made this pledge while commission 64 utility vehicles and 12 motorcycles donated to the state police command by the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike.
He stated that the Nigeria Police Force had never allowed these hoodlums to overwhelm it since its existence in the country.
“There is no way you can allow criminal gangs or cult groups to overwhelm the state. It has never happened in the history of any law enforcement agency and I think it will not happen in the Nigeria of our time.
“Do not allow these cultists to take over the state for obvious reasons. Socio-economic development cannot take place in any society if the society is not safe and secure.
“I want to also tell you that the one month state of emergency that was declared is not enough to sanitise the security situation in Rivers to my satisfaction. For that, I am going to extend it by an extra month. I am not unaware of the inconvenience this may cost you; sleepless nights, responding to internal security disorders. But it is something you have to do.
“Once you are able to make sure that the society is properly secured, then you can sit down and actually call yourselves security officers. But if you don’t do that, then what you are saying is that you allowed kidnappers, cultist groups and armed robbers to take over the security space of Rivers State and that, we will not allow to happen,” Arase said.
Commenting on the illegal proliferation of firearms, the IGP stated, “You people must get information and get those things out of the place. Nobody is above the law and in your conduct of policing, I am going to stand by you once you are straight, once you are firm, once you are bold.”
The police IGP, who later paid a courtesy call on the state governor, observed that the increase in crime and proliferation of illegal arms and ammunition in the state is traceable to the 2015 general election.
He further promised that the police would intensify efforts towards removing illegal arms from the system.
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