Community Head Hails Low Crime Rate In Rivers Community

The low crime rate recorded in Rukpokwu Town in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State has been attributed to the presence of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Area Command and local security arrangement.
The Head Chief, Owhu Community, Chief Owhonda Mgbakiri, Eze Epara Owhu IV. Eli Kpokwu-odu said this in an exclusive chat with The Tide last weekend in Rukpokwu Town.
He said that SARS has been useful to the community in the area of crime fighting and violence management.
Mgbakiri reasoned that without the aid of the military formation, that the area would not have been what it is today due to crime eruption. Maintaining that crime fighting was everyone’s duty, he hinted that he and senior chiefs in the community had joined in vigilante operation in a bid to protect the community.
He recalled how the Town lost some of its tenants in the past due to insecurity, but expressed satisfaction over what he described as boom in both security and investment in the area.
On the cause of the rate as recorded in some quarters, he said that it was unconnected with unemployment and hunger.
The Owhu not Head Chief, noted that if employment opportunities were provided for the youths, they would pay little or no attention to crime and violence.
He further hinted how peaceful the state was in the 1970s, 80s and part of 1990s when university graudates were offered jobs immediately after graduation.
The community leader disagreed with those tying the development to politics, saying that the matter must be treated on its merit.
Concerning the security situation in the state, he said that the Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has done his best to ensure that crime was reduced to the lowest rate.   Earlier, he has called on the youths to always learn how to shun violence, hinting that no meaningful end could be achieved in a crime or coarse atmosphere.