Governor Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has vowed that the controversial Neighbourhood Watch which has generated so much agrimony has come to stay as it fashioned like the one in Lagos.

He alleged that there is a plot by some unnamed opposition politicians to set up illegal vigilant groups that will clash with the State Neighbourhood Watch to pave  the way for the police to ban the new security outfit.

Governor Wike said such political plots will fail as the State Neighbourhood Watch has come to stay. He stated  that  only  a court of competent jurisdiction can stop the Neighbourhood Watch.

Speaking  during a Courtesy Visit by  Usman Abubakar, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 6 Calabar at the Government House Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Governor Wike said that the Neighbourhood Watch is strictly a security organization that will support security agencies with intelligence to promote the security of the state.

He said that the Neighbourhood Watch is fashioned in line with the operations  of a similar agency  set up in Lagos State to support security agencies.

“In setting up the State Neighbourhood Watch, we adopted the process established in Lagos State. This is a replica of what  is already  in existence in Lagos State .

“We are setting up the State Neighbourhood Watch for intelligence gathering.  Policemen and other security agencies cannot be everywhere.  They need the relevant  support  to maintain  security across the state “.

Governor Wike announced that the State Government has acquired six gunboats for the State Police Command to help it fight criminals along the waterways.

He warned against the politicization of security operations, saying  that such actions  will be detrimental to the stability of the country.

He reiterated his advice to INEC and the Police  to work towards the successful conduct of the 2019 General Election.  He said that the police should not be used to indiscriminately  arrest opponents of the ruling party ahead of the elections.

In his remarks, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 6 Calabar, Usman Abubakar, said that the Zone 6 Police Command  is fashioning out ways to reduce cultism, kidnapping and violent crime in the area.

He appealed to stakeholders to work with the Police  to reduce crime  ahead of the 2019 General Election.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police called on all groups to come to a round table to work for peace as the police will not tolerate lawlessness.