By Prince Wiro
Relevant stakeholders have asserted that the newly deployed Commissioner of Police in Rivers State CP Olugbenga Adepoju will deliver on core mandate of the Nigeria Police Force which is maintaining of peace and order,through proactive policing.
The stakeholders were reacting to statement credited to CP Adepoju who said he has all it takes to fight crime in the state during his maiden press briefing at Police headquarters, Moscow road, PortHarcourt on Friday,January 3rd,2025.
The Chairman of Police Community Relations Committee(PCRC),Rivers State Chapter, Voke Emore said “the PCRC is very excited to have CP Olugbenga as our new CP.He has been in forefront of crime fighting in Rivers State before now.
“He was the DC operations and as you know, operations is key in every command and crime fighting is the most important aspect of operations.
“He has shown capacity in that office because his role has led to arrest or elimination of alot of violent criminals in the state.So,he is not a new person in the game.With all these experience,he will bring on board,we believe he is going to deliver.
“PCRC will give CP Adepoju one hundred percent support.We are going to galvanize communities,Divisions,Area Commands and the state chapters to give him full support.We have pledged that to other CPs and CP Adepoju is one of the good friends of PCRC,we will extend full support to him”.
Voke Emore,Chairman of PCRC,Rivers State
A retired Superintendent of Police,SP and former Divisional Police Officer(DPO) of Elele Police Division,Eze E.O.C.Israel-Anele said
“CP Olugbenga Adepoju is a crime buster and a very disciplined officer. As a matter of fact he has been OC Anti-Robbery Squad,Zone 4 Benue, He has been a DCO,DPO, P and G,Enugu command,He has been unit commander 31 PMF,Asaba,36 PMF Kebbi state he is going to deliver on mandate of crime fighting.
“As a former Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations,he knows all the nooks and crannies in the state.He knows the areas that requires more Policemen,areas to deploy more manpower.He knows areas to deploy men to ensure those areas are crime free.
“Officers of the command should listen to the advice and instructions of the new Commissioner of Police,as he already has a plan on how to carry out his operation,having stayed in Rivers state before his appointment”.
Eze Israel-Anele
On his part, a Youth Activist,Comrade Hector Chinem Ekeakita,Public Relations Officer of Igbu-Akoh Youth Congress in Ahoada East Local Government Area said
“CP Olugbenga Adepoju has been part and parcel of the system in Rivers state policing and having served as Deputy Commissioner of Police incharge of Operations,I think he has the capacity .
“He also has the capacity of making sure criminality is reduced to the barest minimum because he has served under so many CPs in the state.He is grounded in Policing business and knows how to fight crime.
“I have no doubt, if he says he is going to fight cultism to barest the minimum.CP Olugbenga is somebody that I know,that have followed up all tactical operations in Rivers state,especially in Ahoada,even in the time of 2Baba(infamous cult leader) he was also among.
“CP Adepoju will not leave any stone unturned to ensure security and safety of residents in Rivers.I give him kudos on that.
“Cultism has been a challenge in Ekpeye especially Ahoada East.Eventhough,for the past one month we have not had any bad news,but I still want to tell you that those that are laying down their arms he should give them that opportunity to submit their arms and if they do not lay down their arms,the Police should go after them”.
Comrade Ekeakita maintained that he knows CP Adepoju will not let Rivers people down.
In her opinion, Gladys Oyenmwen Ogan, Secretary of Centre for Basic Rights Protection And Accountability Campaign,Rivers state chapter, stated that CP Adepoju has started on a good note going by his speech in his maiden press briefing that he will not tolerate human rights abuses and also ensure officers who violate rights of residents are held accountable.
CP Olugbenga Adepoju assumed office on Friday,January 3rd,2025 as the 47th Commissioner of Police in Rivers State.