Rivers State has recorded 27 new positive coronavirus  cases.

A statement signed by the Rivers state Ministry of Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, disclosed that the Manager of Prodest Hotel, Eleme is among the new positive cases.

According to the statement, the latest development validates the State Government’s proactive approach towards the fight against COVID-19.

Recall that Prodest Hotel was demolished two weeks ago because the owners violated Executive Order 7 which banned the operation of hotels.

The COVID-19 Taskforce members from the Local Government who went to enforce the Executive Order were brutalized and dehumanised leading to the death of one of them.

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 His Excellency, 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.