The Inspector-General of Police,
Usman Alkali Baba, has announced the provision of one armoured personnel carrier (APC) and two gun trucks as well as other equipments and tools to the Police Tactical Operations Centre in Rivers State
This is as Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, expressed the need for the federal government to increase funding to the Nigeria police to enable it perform better.
Baba who made the announcement yesterday during the inauguration of the second Police Tactical Operations Centre, located at Rumueprikom in Obio/Akpor local government area of Rivers State, said the provision was the contribution of Force headquarters to the facility.
He stated that police officers and men in Rivers State were lucky because of the good working tools and conducive environment provided for them.
Baba noted that while the Nigeria police is contemplating adopting E-policing strategies, the Rivers State government has taken the led by proving E-policing enabling equipment and centres that will make tracking, patrolling, raiding, stop and search operations possible without being on the road.
He said: “I want to pledge that I will support this tactical operation unit with an armored personnel carrier, two gun trucks made of pickup and I will also give arms and ammunition dedicated to this place. That is our contribution at the headquarters level.”
Speaking during the event, Wike maintained that any government that cannot protect life and property, fight crime and make people live happily does not have any business in governance.
The governor said his administration understands such import and had unrelentingly provided necessary logistics to the State police command.
He noted that such support has strengthened the capacity of police officers to do their best in keeping crime rate at its lowest level in Rivers State.
Wike said: “Ours is to provide the necessary logistics and allow the police and other sister agencies to carry out their function. When you provide the enabling and conducive environment, obviously officers and men of the security agencies will put in their best.
“I’m sure, when the tactical team, as the CP said, move in here the environment alone will allow them to put in their best.”
The governor, however, corrected the thinking that only the federal government has the duties of fighting insecurity.
He stressed that the essence of governance is to protect life and leaving such role for the federal government alone is a slack in responsibility of any person in government.
Wike said: “If you’re a governor, you’re a chairman of local council, if you’re a president and you can’t protect life and property of citizens then you have no business to talk about governance.
“So, don’t go home and sleep that it is the responsibility of federal government to fight insecurity, no. Every tier of government has that responsibility to fight crime and make sure people live happily.”
The governor commended the Inspector General of Police for not changing commissioners of police posted to Rivers State incessantly.
This, he pointed out, has helped to stabilise the security architecture and strategies deployed in fighting crime and criminality.
Wike also acknowledged that a new commissioner of police has been posted to the State and urged him to sustain the crime fighting tempo.
The governor stated that the incoming governor, Siminalayi Fubara will not tolerate it if the crime rate increases, when it should be fought to minimum level.
