The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has urged Nigerians to have faith in the institution as well as work alongside it to ensure efficient and effective policing of the country.
This is just as it commended the Police Community Relations Committee PCRC for its consistent support in crime prevention and protection in Rivers state.
Speaking at the 2025 End of the Year Get Together/Award Giving/Conferment of Patrons of Police Community Relations Committee(PCRC), Harcourt Metropolitan Area Command, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Olu Obasanjo Police Division, CSP James Abba, admitted that PCRC,is assisting the Police to know the community the more.
He said: “PCRC is involved in crime prevention and protection because they signal and inform us before we act. And they contribute financially and otherwise to make sure crime is reduced, and we make sure we give them that support”.
CSP Abba expressed the reason why the Nigerian public should trust and work with the Nigeria Police Force for effective and efficient policing in the country.
“Nigeria Police is here to serve the humanity, that is why we bring our mind to do the right thing. As Police Officers, it’s our duty to serve, and to do the right thing. We are trying to reach out to people, for them to know the people we are. Some people have wrong impression about the Police, but that is not what we are, we’re here to change that wrong impression”.
CSP Abba who earned the conferment of Icon of Security Award expressed joy, and gladness for his efforts in crime prevention and protection is recognized.
Some of the Award recipients
“I am overwhelmed with joy, because I really appreciate them to recommend me and honour me with the award. I can literally say that the Commissioner of Police Rivers State, Olugbenga who posted there knows what I can do, I really appreciate that. I thanked them for recognizing me, because I never knew that people take note of what I am doing”.
In his speech, ASP Desmond Ohiokpekhai who represented ACP Lucky Omoniyi, Commander Port Harcourt Metropolitan Area Command emphasized the importance of PCRC as a body and congratulated PCRC Metropolitan Area Command for organizing the end of the year Get-Together.
“It’s a thing of joy that at the end of the year people come together to do what we are doing today.
We all know the importance of PCRC in the society. We encourage those of who are none members to inform those that are not here that there is a body called PCRC who are so important to the Nigeria Police and the community entirely. And as result there is need for us to come together and unite to work with the Police effectively and make sure Policing earned the oriented goals. I pray that next year will better than this year”.
Emote: Chairman PCRC Rivers state Command
In a chat with newsmen at the sideline of the event, Voke Emore, Chairman Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) Rivers State Command emphasized the essence of PCRC and their role in crime prevention and protection in the society.
“PCRC is the bridge between the community and the Nigeria Police. What we do is to build a better relationship between the Police and the community and ensuring that the partnership is sustained.
PCRC as a body is evolving since our national chairman, Mogaji took over helm of affairs. He has putting the right people in the right position. This time the people choose their leaders. I was chosen since 2022 to led PCRC in Rivers state; from all the evidences PCRC is not the way it was before. We are changing the norms for better from the way it was before. The Nigeria Police, in partnership with the PCRC a lot has been achieved.
We, the community, trusts the Police. We give them useful information on crime. Without the community, crime cannot be fought effectively. So we need that partnership to be solid and strong, which we are doing so that crime can be fought effectively. And as you can see crime has been reduced a lot in Rivers state, kidnapping and all the rest has reduced because the community trusts the Police better especially the man in helm of affairs in Rivers state, CP Olugbenga”
The PCRC Rivers state command chairman eulogized the Metropolitan Area Command PCRC for their steadfastness in growth and development in all their Police divisions.
“Port Harcourt Metropolitan Area Command is a very special area command because it’s Metropolitan Area Command which is the heart of Rivers State. What we have seen in this Area Command is growth, development and achievements. Many of the division understanding it have had their own successes also.
We are happy and we are excited in what we are seeing and we hope it can only get better” Voke Emore reiterate.
Earlier in his opening address, Sir. Chief, Eben Emman Ogan, AFP, JP, Chairman PCRC Metropolitan Area Command gave encormion to the Metropolitan Area Command according to him for enabling peace in the Port Harcourt Metropolis.
“Today, we have to commend the Port Harcourt Area Command and all the division under it for making sure that there is peace within Port Harcourt Metropolis, because they have made possible for calm in the area”.
Today we want to have the second Patrons of this command and also to give award to well standing people in the community with the area command.
Chief, Eben Emman Ogan gave thanks to the Almighty God
Today marks another good day in the life of Port Harcourt Area Command. This area command has given birth to 8 area command, this is the mother and father of area commands in Rivers state. It has not been easy with us as the bridge between the community and the Police. Both the Police and the PCRC have been doing our best in crime prevention and protection in the Port Harcourt Metropolis, Chief Ogan concluded”.
Responding to newsmen also, Chief Sir, Ide, Christian I. Duruoma, one of the Awardees expressed gratitude to PCRC Metro Area Command for finding him worthy to be one of their Patrons and promised to leave upto expectations.
I have been a member of PCRC since 2012, and today I am conferred Patron of PCRC of Metropolitan Area Command. Being a Patron to me is a thing to celebrate, it’s a thing of joy. I am a man of peace. As a Patron of the Metropolitan Area Command, I know what it means. I am more or less one of the fathers as far as this command is concerned. I understand the game and I know what is expected of me.
As Patron, I will always be available for them for quality advices, financial assistance; any one I can afford, I will not hesitate because I know the value of it and I know what PCRC stands for. General I am happy for the end of the year meeting today and the award of Patron to me. I pray to the Almighty God to give me the grace to be a Patron indeed to them, Ide I.C Duruoma posited.
Those conferred Patrons of PCRC Port Harcourt Metropolitan Area Command are; High Chief Jackson T A Adoki, Ide Chief Sir Christian Duruoma, Engr. Julius Tonye George, Comrade Bright Alali and Alabo Mark Opuda.
Those conferred security Icon Awardees are CSP James Abba. Divisional Police Officer Olu Obasanjo Polic Division. Rev. Solomon Foby Owhondo, Ozo Akukaria Nwankwo, Mr. Tekenan Tari, Pst. David Awesome, Elder Francis Igbo, Mr. Stephen Wilcox, Mr. Okwuchukwu Nwankwo, and Elder Nengisa Laurence.
