Security: We’ll Consolidate On 2018 Achievements-RSG

The Rivers State Government has said so much was achieved in containing insecurity in 2018, pointing out that it would deploy every lawful means to consolidate on that feat this year.
The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Barri Emmah Okah, stated this when he appeared as a guest on a live Radio programme in Port Harcourt monitored by The Tide.
Okah accused the federal Government of Frustrating the security architecture in the state, pointing out that even as the amnesty programme initiated by Governor Nyesom Wike in the state did not get the needed support from the Federal Government.
He observed, “If the Police Commissioners and heads of security agencies posted to Rivers State were guided and told to come and do their jobs professionally, some of these anomalies would not be there.
“Because, if you are here to do your job as a Commissioner of Police for instance, everything consistent with that determination will be glaring to the people. But here we call you to say this is a problem we are having. Criminal A, criminal B, Criminal C have been declared wanted.
“So and so person is supposed to be in court, he has committed a crime. You, the same police you are now the one giving him security cover. So what message are you sending to society?
He further said that the security challenges experienced in the state would have deteriorated if not for the amnesty programme initiated by the Governor, even as he expressed happiness that that effort yielded positive fruits.
“First and foremost, we wanted everybody to be involved in the amnesty scheme. The federal government, the state government and the local government areas. But we did not get the support of the center.
“In fact, we have had to carry that battle on our own because we know that security is local and if we did not do the things we did our people will be the ones suffering.

Dennis Naku