By Ukandi Christopher
Nigerians, especially Rivers State indegenes who applied for recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force are expected to report to the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt from Monday, 8th to 29th January 2024, for Physical and Credential Screening Exercise that would have successful applicants join the Nigeria Police Force.
Superintendent of Police, Grace Iringe-Koko, Police Public Relations Officer,
Rivers State Police Command, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, Thursday, requested shortlisted applicants to bring with them, ‘Evidence of Physical and Mental Fitness from a government-recognized medical hospital, Proof of good character from village or district head of the applicant and Original and duplicate copies of the certificate of origin duly signed by the Local Government Chairman or Secretary.’
Other requirements are ‘Original and duplicate copies of National Identity Card or Sliip, Original and duplicate copies or declaration of age, Printout of application form, duly completed Guarantor’s form and Invitation Slips.’
The Rivers State Police Command, stated that ‘Candidates are also required to bring along with them recent passport photographs, two white flat files, and appear at the screening center in clean white T-shirts and shorts knickers.’
The Command also said ‘Candidates should arrive at the screening venue at 0800HRS daily on the date indicated on their invitation slips.’
While wishing the shortlisted applicants a successful screening exercise, the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, Olatunji Disu advised them to familiarized themselves with the statutory entry requirements into the force, as stated in the Police Acts and Regulations, as the provisions will be followed accordingly.
Much as the Commissioner noted that the January 8th recruitment exercise is absolutely free, he cautioned
that shortlisted applicants must conduct themselves in an orderly manner and avoid acts capable of undermining the exercise.
The recruitment exercise is expected to boost policing in Rivers State given the pressure, the men of the command have faced fighting crime in the state, particularly in 2023 wherein the command lost senior police officers on duty. Informed sources in the security sector stated that most of the inadequacies of the Rivers State Police Command has not been in negligence but the shortage of personnel in emergency response, a development that new intakes would address.
The police community in Port Harcourt are expectant that a new lease of policing is on the horizon with the recommitment of Rivers state indegenes into the police command to rejuvenate the state police force. More too, their expectations steamed from the arrest of a notorious Iceland cult leader, Barikui Amanyie, aka ‘Lawyer’ 35, who has been terrorizing Eleme Area, since 2021 by the Anti Kidnapping Unit of the Rivers State Police in December 2023.
Barikui, who hails from Kaanii in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, has been on the watch list of the Police with five other members of his gang were alleged to have murdered one Lioneda Lebari after withdrawing his annual savings of NGN150,000 from a local thrift collector. The victim was tracked to the Oil-Mill junction, where he was attacked by Barikui and his gang, stabbed multiple times and left to die of his wounds while they fled the scene of the crime.
Thursday, Grace Iringe-Koko in a statement disclosed that the suspect has confessed to the crime and has been charged to court on a two-count charge of murder and cultism while investigations are still on to get other members of the murderous gang to face the wrought of the law.
Perhaps, again for Rivers people, the police has commenced the year 2024 on a positive note, Friday, when they promptly effected the release of three persons abducted on 2nd of January, 2024 along Aluu – Igwuruta Road, Port Harcourt. It was revealed that the feat was achieved by intense pressure and massive deployment of Police present, for the victims to be released. They have since been reunited with their family members.
Olatunji Disu, the Police Commissioner is said to have expressed his satisfaction with the promptness of the men of the Rivers State Police Command in dealing with suspects on the Police watch list, particularly with the incident of January 2nd . Disu also gave the men of the command a charge not to relent in the campaign against crime as the command has gained grounds on fighting crime and criminality in the state.