The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has urged the new Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Friday Eboka to shun politics and stay within his professional mandate to fight crime without fear or favour.
According to a statement by his media aide, Kelvin Ebiri, the governor gave the charge when the new police commissioner paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt on Friday.
Citing the abduction of over 300 schoolgirls in Zamfara state on Friday, the governor said there was so much criminality in the society and professional police officers should not abandon their duties of protecting life and property for any other interest.
Wike said nobody should be above the law, noting that any suspect arrested should be charged to court.
“I will never come to you to say Mr. CP go and do what is illegal. I will never come to you to say so and so person is my friend, he was arrested for kidnapping, so release him. In fact, I’ll even say take him away.
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“Because if I support the person who is kidnapping, it may be my turn tomorrow; I won’t always be governor.
“So, whatever you can do with your team, please I beg you in the name of God, provide security. Don’t come here and play politics,” the governor said.
The governor said he was not unmindful that some persons may have recommended Eboka’s posting to Rivers but he admonished the CP to let his conscience guide him.
He commended the CP for reorganising the C4I unit of the state police command and pledged to support the team succeed in their task to combat crime.
The new police commissioner said he has dissolved the E-Crack team of the state police command because of the uncanny report against it and redeployed the officers to other units.
Eboka told the governor that he would need effective synergy with all stakeholders, especially the Rivers state government to succeed on his mission of crime fighting.
“My duty, essentially in this State is to fight crime and criminality. I know I cannot do that work alone without synergy with other stakeholders.
“I want to assure you (Governor) that any assistance given to us will be used to improve the security of this State.
“I’ve told my men that there is no arm-chair policing in my administration. My officers have been warned to shun corruption, be civil with the public, and we will not tolerate accidental discharge,” the new CP stated.
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