Worried by the high rate of insecurity in Eleme local government area of Rivers State, the Area Commander, Bori Area Command of the Nigeria Police, Mr. Usman Ayuba, yesterday, visited traditional rulers and youth leaders in Eleme community.
Eleme is one of the flash points of armed robbery, cultism and other criminal activities in the state.
Speaking during the visit, Ayuba told the traditional rulers that he was in the area to find ways of partnering with the traditional rulers to combat crime.
He expressed worry over the rising cases of crime and other youthful vices in the area and called on the traditional rulers to help the police in its bid to combat crime to its barest minimum in the state and the state at large.
Responding, the Paramount Ruler of Eleme Kingdom, Emere Samuel Ejire, urged Ayuba to be on top of his game in ensuring that cultism, armed robbery and kidnapping are eradicated from Eleme, and expressed worry over the increasing crime rate in the land which he attributed to the influx of people into the kingdom in search of jobs.
Also speaking, the traditional ruler of Alesa clan, Emere Philip Obelle, lamented that the people can no longer stay outside their homes beyond 6.00 pm due to fear of attack. He urged the government to implement the findings reached in the feud between the Eleme people and their Okrika and Oyigbo neighbours as a way of solving the problems.
Obelle explained that his people have been sent packing by their Ogu neighbours for 2 years now adding that all attempts to resolve the feud failed.
On his part, the traditional ruler of Onne community, King Johnson Nkpornwi, who urged the police to ensure that peace returned to the area, advised against interference from any quarter whenever youth elections were approaching.
Also, leader of Onne Youth Council, Comrade Samuel Onwikpe, explained that some repentant cultists and all other jobless youths in Onne which he put at 99% of the youth population, are currently undergoing skills acquisition at the youth centre.
