CP Effiong resumes as new Commissioner of Police in Rivers, vows to fight Rights abuse

*Effiong is the immediate past Commandant, Police Collage Oji River, Enugu State

Eric Olusesan/Port Harcourt

The newly deployed Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, CP Okon Effiong who is 42nd has assured residents that the Rivers State Police Command under his watch will not tolerate abuse of human rights and disrespect for the rule of law.

CP Effiong made this declaration  at his maiden press briefing at Police headquarters, Moscow road, PortHarcourt on Wednesday.

CP Effiong who introduced himself as a Human Rights Advocate,  he will ensure officers and personnel under his command do not trample on rights of residents of the state.

He pledged that when cases Rights abuse are reported, he will give it uttermost attention it deserves to prevent re-occurence and a thorough Investigation will be carried out any officer found wanting will sanctioned according to the law.

He solicited for maximum support from the media in the state.

” I owe it as responsibility to good people of Rivers State to ensure there is conducive environment where people can sleep with their eyes closed.

“It is a difficult task but is achievable.By your cooperation our target can be achieved. Rivers state is relatively peaceful compared to other states. We will maintain the relative peace in the state. We will go beyond level of peace achieved.

“Under my watch we will not allow performance to drop. Our mandate is clear.

IGP asked us to deliver every point of policy agenda he has for Rivers State.

“To be able to succed we will run an open door policy.

“Government has invested in security. Without security there cannot be sustainable development. We will ensure the investment of the people and Government of Rivers State is not wasted.

“We will enhance our performance individually and collectively as a Force.

“Security indeed is not a one man responsibility. It is a collective responsibility. Civilians can give information. Civilians can arrest criminals and hand over to the Police.

“We solicit for more robust synergy with sisters agencies in area of information sharing, logistics. The security agencies we see themselves as partners in progress rather than showing superiority.

We will work with everybody to achieve the desired results.

“Information, Intelligence gathering is very key to crime fighting. We will appraise our response to distress call. Where is not effective will rejig the entire system.

The response time should not be more than five minutes.

“Every major road, there should be vehicle to cover every area. Visibility is very critical in policing.

“It shall be more of proactive policing than reactive policing. We will take the battle to the criminals.Those who does not want Rivers State to have peace will not have peace.

“Indulgence in crime is not profitable. Criminals should repent as Rivers State will not be conducive for them. We will put in place everything to guarantee peace”.

Speaking on the next year’s election, CP Effiong  advised residents of the state to be of good conduct before during and after the election.

CP Effiong urged youths to desist from thuggery during election as the command will not take it lightly with any group of persons that will disturb the relatively peace enjoyed in the state.

The Commissioner who informed that the command will take proactive measure in tackling insecurity enjoined criminals to turn new live or leave the state. Assures residents of the protection of lives and property.
Effiong succeeds CP Eboka Friday, who has been promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police and now in-charge of Zone 16, Yenegoa.

CP Okon Okon Effiong hails from Biase Local Government Area in Cross Rivers State.
He holds the following educational qualifications.

B.Sc (Hons) Education/Political Science, from the University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. M.Sc Policy Studies and Administration, from the University of Calabar, Cross Rivers State, Nigeria.
He was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet ASP course 16 on the 3rd of March, 1990. He attended the elite Police Academy Kaduna and upon completion of his training, was posted to Bauchi State as an Assistant Superintendent of Police.

He has served in various capacities in the Nigerian Police Force which includes:

Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP Intelligence Operations, Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Intelligence Component Commander, Joint Internal Security Operations, Ops Safe Haven, Jos.
Deputy Security Coordinator, Independence National Electoral Commission, INEC, Headquarters, Abuja.

Assistant Police Force Secretary, Force Headquarters, Abuja, in-charge Welfare and Promotion.

Area Commander, Abeokuta, Ogun State Police Command,

Assistant Commissioner of Police, in-charge State Criminal Investigation Department, Federal Capital Territory, FCT Command, Abuja. Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge Operations, Ogun State Police Command,

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Finance and Administration, Eastern Ports Command, Rivers State. He was the Deputy Coordinator of Courses, Police Staff College, Jos, Plateau State. 

Effiong is the immediate past Commandant, Police Collage Oji River, Enugu State. From where he  redeployed to the State as the 43rd Commissioner of Police Rivers State.