Killings: Rivers Residents Carpet Security Agencies

Security agencies in Rivers State have been blamed for the rising spate of criminality in the state in recent times.
A cross section of the state’s residents who spoke to The Tide on the level of unrest resulting from violence, kidnappings, killings and other criminal activities in some parts of the state said the security agencies must be answerable to the situation, alleging that the security personnel have compromised their position for such crimes to thrive.
They said had the system been devoid of compromise, the perpetrators of these crimes would not only be nabbed and prosecuted but criminal activities reduced drastically in the state.
A medical consultant with the state’s Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH) who pleaded anonymity regretted that the state with all its resources and exposure in the comity of states could no longer be a safe place for lives.
“It is as if the state is without any security outfit. It is like a sheep without a shepherd that these boys will just kill and subject human lives to torment and yet go free”.
“But as far as I know, the Nigerian security personnel are highly trained in such away that they is capable of fishing out these guys as well as their hideouts provided they have the right information. But what do we see now. Even with all the information, these boys go free yet, they tell us they are on top of the situation”, he said.
A Secondary School Principal, Mrs. Braide Wokoma said “what is the work of the police in the state? The police in these areas cannot tell one that they do not know these devils and their hideouts. All these evils are happening because some of the men of the police especially their big officers are partners”.
She urged government at all levels to ensure that the police in their areas uphold their training and calling of protection of lives and properties as well as peace keepers by punishing any security personnel found to be partners of hoodlums to serve as deterrent to other officers.

Lady Godknow Ogbulu