The New Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, Police Commissioner Mohammed Indabawa, has assumed duty last week. The change of batons took place at the Police Headquarters, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.
Briefing the press, the outgoing Police Commissioner in the state, Abba Suileman who has been promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, told journalists that his responsibility as Commissioner of Police was nothing more than influencing the officers and men of the command to achieve the objectives of which the Nigeria Police was established, which is the prevention of crimes and ensuring public safety, as well as apprehending offenders when offences are committed and prosecuting them in the courts of law.
It would be recalled that the former commissioner of Police stayed two years and three months as the police commissioner of Rivers State.
On whether the command has performed very well or whether they have improved on the safety of lives and property in Rivers State, the outgoing commissioner said the journalists should be in a better position to make such evaluation.
He however stated that the federal, state and local governments and some individual have expressed satisfaction for the reduction in the level of crimes in the state, especially violent crimes, saying the gesture has raised hope for the Nigerian Police, believing that it was based on this track record that greater responsibility and promotion was given to him.
“I urge journalists in the state to thank God and pray that I continue to have the good health to live up to the responsibilities that would be added to me because of my promotion to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police,” Suleiman added.
AIG Suleiman used the occasion to thank the crime and judiciary correspondents for the thanksgiving service in his honour, promising that the police will always protect the lives and property of Rivers people.
He said the new commissioner of police, Rivers State, Police commissioner Mohammed Indabawa is an experienced man who have served in various capacities as Commissioner of Police Bauchi State, Commissioner of Police, in the Police Academy, Kano State, Commissioner of Police in Nassarawa State, promising that the new commissioner of Police will in the same vein partner with the press in fighting crime in the state,. He assured the good people of Rivers State that the change is for the better, noting that the good people of the state have continued to support the command.
The former Commissioner of Police said during his tenure, the Police have arrested many armed robbers, foiled many kidnap attempts and reduced crime to the barest minimum, while congratulating the state government for the thousands of bullet proof equipment and the hospitality of Rivers people.
Responding, the new commissioner of Police, Mohammed Indabawa said he will need the corporation of journalists in the state to improve on where his predecessor stopped while accepting that each state has its peculiar problem. Indabawa promised to do everything to improve the security situation in the state. ###
-Pius Dukor
