… Sets Up New Crime Unit
The Rivers State Police Command is turning to community intelligence and civilian oversight in its renewed push against kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes, with the launch of a specialised unit to strengthen crime prevention, investigation and response.
The Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), launched on Saturday, October 10, alongside the inauguration of its civilian oversight board, is expected to strengthen the police response to serious crimes while providing a structured channel for public participation and feedback.
The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, said the initiative was a deliberate response to prevailing security challenges and an effort to rebuild public confidence in the police.
Adepoju said effective policing required more than enforcement, stressing that the cooperation and trust of residents were essential to identifying threats and preventing criminal activities.
According to him, community members were often the first to notice suspicious movements and emerging security threats, making their timely and credible information valuable to law enforcement agencies.
He explained that the civilian component would provide a platform for community leaders, civil society organisations, members of the legal profession, traditional institutions and other stakeholders to contribute to the unit’s operations.
The commissioner, however, clarified that the initiative was not intended to transfer police responsibilities to civilians but to establish a trusted channel for communicating security concerns, sharing information and providing feedback on police conduct.
The civilian oversight board is also expected to assess the conduct and effectiveness of VCRU personnel, promote police-community relations and facilitate the responsible sharing of information about suspicious activities and potential security threats.
The chairman of the occasion, Grant Ofor, described the launch as an important step towards improving public safety, insisting that residents should be able to conduct their daily activities without fear.
He urged the officers to balance firmness with fairness in carrying out their duties.
“Be firm in confronting crime and fair in dealing with people,” Ofor advised the personnel.
He also called on traditional rulers, community leaders, young people, business owners and other residents to support the police by providing credible information and promptly reporting security concerns.
Ofor said public cooperation would depend largely on whether residents trusted the police to handle their information responsibly and take their concerns seriously.
He further linked security to economic development, noting that a safer environment was necessary to attract investment, support businesses and create opportunities for young people.
The Commander of the VCRU, CSP Julian Wealth, said the unit would focus on preventing violent crimes, responding swiftly to incidents, conducting professional investigations, rescuing victims and ensuring that offenders were brought to justice.
The unit’s operational focus includes kidnapping, armed robbery, cult-related violence, terrorism, piracy, murder and other forms of organised violent criminality.
Wealth charged his personnel to respect human rights, operate within the law and maintain discipline and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
“Rivers State will not be surrendered to criminals. We shall protect the innocent. We shall pursue violent criminals professionally and relentlessly. Above all, we shall remain accountable to the people we have sworn to protect,” he said.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, had directed the establishment of the unit across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
The Rivers State launch culminated in the formal inauguration of the civilian oversight board by Adepoju.
Responding on behalf of the board, its chairman, lawyer Innocent Nwakpudolu, pledged that members would discharge their responsibilities with fairness and integrity.
The event was attended by the Chairman of the Khana Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM King Suanu Baridam; the Rivers State Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee, Dr Voke Emore; other traditional rulers; senior police officers; representatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps; and senior military officers.
