Determined to end the upsurge of criminality in Rivers State, the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt,  says it would take the battle to the creeks and other identified flash points to flush out criminals and kidnappers across the state.
The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Port Harcourt, Maj-Gen Enobong Udoh, stated this during the meeting of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), Rivers State chapter at Somitel Hotel in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
Udoh disclosed that within the next four weeks, people of the state would witness drastic reduction in crimes, adding that the division has concluded plans to establish road blocks across all the six entry points into the state.
The GOC, who was represented at the occasion by the Commander, 6 Military Intelligence Brigade, Brig-Gen E.S. Buba, further disclosed that the division was poised to rid the state of all forms of criminality, adding that it would achieve this through robust working synergy with other security operatives in the state.
According to him, the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army was inaugurated to deal with multifarious issues threatening the four states of the South-South, including Rivers, Delta, Akwa-Ibom and Bayelsa, with a view to restoring peaceful environment in the affected states.
The GOC particularly said that kidnapping, illegal bunkering and cultism are some major crimes threatening the four states, and added that within a few weeks, positive results would be achieved in this core mandate of the new division.
He used the opportunity to appeal to the residents of the state to be ready to make some sacrifices, adding that total security cannot be achieved without some inconveniences.
“We are going to lunch our war in the creeks, I mean my words. You cannot achieve security without any inconveniences. If we inconvenience you through our strategies, please, do bear with us because we will achieve our aims and missions.
“We have identified all the entry and exit roads in the state, and we will establish road blocks on these roads”, he stated.
The commanding officer while thanking the state government for its assistance, described  private security guards as important agents in crime fighting, and assured them of his support at all times.
Also speaking, the state Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mohamed Lawal Aruna, urged the association to make information gathering a critical aspect of their work in other to assist security operatives fight crime and criminalities in the state.
Represented by the Deputy Commandant, G.U. Miebi, Aruna, emphasised that the state command was satisfied with the way the association was carrying out its operations in the state, and urged them to report those unlicensed private security practitioners to the command.
In her goodwill message, Desk Officer of NSCDC in-charge of Private Security Guards in the state, Mrs. Claire Nnenna Okpo, said members of the group need not to carry arms in other to be effective in crime fighting, adding that the presence of private security guards in the society was a deterrence to criminals.
Speaking during the meeting, the state Chairman of Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), Rev. Mark R. Abere, urged the Federal Government to enforce the ban on the use of all unregistered SIM cards to make calls, adding that the measure would help in fight against crime in the country.
According to him, those kidnappers often call the family of their victims with unregistered SIM cards, adding that it was wrong for communication service providers to allow such calls.
He assured of his association’s desire to partner with security operatives in the state in crime fighting.