Police Kick-Off Stop Kidnapping Campaign In Rivers

In its determined ef
forts to curb kidnapping activities and other social vices in the State, the Rivers State Police Command has organised a one-day Workshop tagged” Stop Kidnapping Campaign in the state.
The event which was held at the Police Officers Mess in Port Harcourt over the weekend, attracted participants from all walks of life including security personnel, politicians, traditional rulers, religious bodies, youth organisations, non-governmental  organisations (NGOs) and members of the society.
Speaking at the occasion, the state Commissioner of Police, Tunde Ogunsakin said the campaign was aimed at teaching the public on the inherent dangers associated with kidnapping as well as sensitise the people on the mode of operation of the culprits’ adding that the state police command was determined to ensure that operatives of the crime were defeated in the state.
The state commissioner stated that before his assumption of office as the Commissioner of Police, kidnapping rate  was alarming, adding that such situation made him to approve the establishment of anti-kidnapping unit in the state.
Ogunsakin however, told the gathering that the activities of kidnapping had been reduced to the lowest minimum, adding that the campaign was to integrate the society on finding proactive ways of fighting the menace across the state.
He urged members of the society to be cooperative with the police to fight the crime, which according to him Rivers has become a national problem.
The police boss assured members of the state of the readiness of the command to curtail the excesses of the group as well as other crimes in the society, adding that the responsibility of police to safe guard life and property would not be compromised.
Earlier in his speech, the officer-in-change-Anti-kidnapping unit, Rivers State, ASP, Shadare Edwards attributed the causes  of the crime to poverty, unemployment and desire to make quick and fast wealth.
He averred that no day passes without  the occurrences of kidnapping case adding that the command has developed a strategic plan that involves information gathering, interfacing with members of community and carrying out detailed and properly planned operations against the perpetrators.

L-R: Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State (left), congratulating the New Acting Chief Judge of the State, Justice Aliyu Liman, at the swearing-in in Bauchi recently. Photo: NAN