As the Boko Haram insurgency continues to wreck havock the Northern parts of the country, heads of military formations in Rivers State have warned that there is no place for the sect in the state as they continue to evolve strategies to put the activities of the group in check.
This was the consensus view of all the service chiefs in the state who spoke at a one-day sensitization workshop organised by the Nigeria Police Force, Rivers State Command at the Police Officers’ Mess in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Speaking at the occasion, the state Commissioner of Police, Tunde Ogunsakin stated that the threat of the Boko Haram insurgents was shifting from the North to the Eastern part of the Country, adding that the recent development in operation of the sect makes it imperative for the command and other security out fits to put in place proactive measures that would prevent the attack in the state in future.
Ogunsakin said that the security operatives cannot be non-challant over the threat as the insurgents were moving on a high pedestal to unleash terror in every part of the country.
According to him, the Police in partnership with other security services in the state would do every thing humanly possible to ensure that Boko Haram had no base in the state.
“We are not unaware of the activities of the group. We need to have concerted efforts in place that would forstall any strike of the group here in the state.
We must be vigilant at all times, even in our working places, super markets, motor parks and even in our houses”, he stated.
The State Commissioner of Police urged the people to willingly give information to Police about any strange objects and happenings within their environment, adding that the responsibility of security is for everybody and not for security operatives alone.
He told the gathering that the Command was repositioning its strategies to ensure that police Personnel responded quickly to distress calls with a view to effectively nipping any crime in the bud as soon as it was reported.
He assured the people that the police would treat every information received with a high sense of confidentiality, adding that Boko Haram attack may not be possible as the police have taken all the necessary precautions in that regard.
Ogunsakin posited that the essence of the workshop, which was the fourth in the series, was to educate and inform the people as well as solicit their cooperation in the fight against crime, especially in the areas of information gathering.
The Tide reports that in their various speeches, the State Director, State Security Services (SSS), Mr. Abok Nyam, Brigade Commander, Nigerian Army, Bori Camp, Rivers State, Brig-Gen I.O. Uzamere, Airforce Commander, Air Commondore, Jekeno and Commander, NNS Pathfinder (NAVY), Comdr. Godwin Ochai thanked the Police for organizing such workshop, and described it is as timely, especially as it was coming on the heels of recent security challenges in the country.
The Military Chiefs said that information gathering was very important in achieving effective security in the society, adding that they are working in partnership with the Police to ensure crime free state, and abort  any strike by Boko Haram in the state.
They assured of the protection of lifes and properties within the state, including Water ways, and urged people to give useful information to security operatives in the state.