Following the increase in the spate of violence, militancy and kidnapping particularly of women and children in Rivers State, the Police High Command in the State has concluded plans to mobilize Anti-Terrorist Squad to contain the situation.
These were part of the new anti-militancy strategy to be adopted by the new Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bala Hassan. Security sources informed our reporter in Port Harcourt, that the activities of the militants in Rivers State, are already getting out of hand, prompting the government security machinery to come up with new security concept to fighting the criminals who, he said , have been making life unbearable for the citizens.
Security watchers in the state said that Rivers State government under Hon Rotimi Amaechi, must be able to go beyond the new peace deal, and to work in partnership with the new vision in the strengthening of the anti-terrorist squad to reduce the spate of violence, and kidnapping particularly women and children.
In a recent parley with journalists in Port Harcourt, the new Police Bosss, said that the Anti-Terrorist Squad in conjunction with the new Mobile Police Squadron (MOPOL 48) based in Ahoada would be deployed in strategic places to protect oil facilities among other govt interests.
He also noted that the state government in collaboration with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) would soon send abroad the squad for training on small weapons handling, arms tactics and armour personnel carrier maneuver. He also disclosed that the new squad will also be sent to the infantry school in Jaji for special weapon training that would enable them to effectively tackle the prevailing insecurity situation in the Niger Delta.
Bala Hassan noted that the Police Command is committed to ensuring that normalty is returned soon to Port Harcourt and the rest of the region. He stated that the need to restore peace in the state was responsible for the total overhauling of the intelligence bureau of the state Police Command. Already, he assured the people of Rivers State, especially the communities where militancy activities were on the increase to be calm and to collaborate with police to clamp down on the criminals.
He appealed for voluntary information to the police as a way to assist them in this regard. Bala Hassan, also said that the new Police Command in Rivers State would continue to partner and collaborate with other security agencies particularly Army, Air Force, Navy and the State Security Services (SSS), along with other paramilitary agencies to tackle the insecurity and spate of militancy in the state.