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Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has inaugurated the State Community Policing Advisory Committee(SCPAC) and State Community Policing Committee (SCPC) with a charge to members to sustain the peace in the state.
The State Community Policing Advisory Committee has 17 members while the State Community Policing Committee has 9 members with the State Chairman of Traditional Rulers Council, King Dandeson Douglas JAJA as Chairman.
Speaking during the inauguration at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Port Harcourt, Governor Wike who was represented by the State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo charged members of the committees to discharge their duties according to their constitutional mandate.
Governor Wike also enjoined members of the committees to ensure that the peace already attained in the state is maintained in order to attract investors .
“On behalf of the Governor of Rivers State, I hereby inaugurate the Rivers State Community Policing Advisory Committee and I wish to charge you to follow closely the tenets of the purpose for which you are set up by promoting justice, judgement and fairness to all.
“Rivers State is a peaceful and hospitable state and we will like to see that these committees add value to what the Governor has been doing to keep the peace in the state.
“We will like to assure the committees that the state government is committed to support security agencies in the fight against crime and criminality with the provision of adequate logistics,” he stated.
In his speech, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu represented by the Supervisory Deputy Inspector General of Police, South-South Zone, Anthony Ogbizi Michael said the inauguration marked the commencement of community policing in the state.
While noting that community policing had existed right from the time of the colonial masters, the Inspector General of Police said the inauguration of the committees would be replicated at different levels in the state by the State Commissioner of Police create community ownership.
“We are reenacting this process so that we can take back the policing project to the communities. So the communities will now own community policing and we believe that this will promote transparency between the communities, Police and by extension other security agencies.
“Partnering together, solving security problems together, definitely will foster peace, and we will all know were there is peace and social harmony, there will be development,” he added.
Also speaking, the State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan said the inauguration of the State Community Policing Advisory Committee, SCPAC and State Community Policing Committee is a deliberate move by the Police to bring policing closer to the people.
“The power of Community Policing is derived from the Police Order 291 which deals on Community Policing and empowers the police at all levels to engage in active partnership with law abiding citizens and government agencies to collectively and collaboratively solve problems of crime, he added.
In his response, the Chairman of the State Community Policing Committee, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja lauded the State Governor and the Commissioner of Police for the confidence reposed on members of the committees and assured of their commitment to serve the State.
Dr Mrs Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Deputy Governor, Supervisory Deputy Inspector General of Police, South-South Zone, Anthony Ogbizi Michael