The push to curb crime in Rivers State has taken a sharper, more strategic turn, as the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) declared that only sustained intelligence-sharing between residents and law enforcement can decisively check rising security threats—particularly the resurgence of kidnapping.
Marking its 42nd anniversary in Port Harcourt, the PCRC noted that without real-time community cooperation, efforts to combat evolving criminal networks could falter.
Speaking at the Rivers State Police Headquarters on Moscow Road, the State Chairman of PCRC, Dr Voke Emore, said crime prevention must move beyond routine policing to a model anchored on active civilian participation and timely intelligence.
“We cannot secure our communities in isolation,” Emore stated. “Criminals are becoming more sophisticated. If residents do not provide credible and timely information, the police will always be a step behind.”
While noting a significant drop in crime rates across parts of the state, Emore noted that renewed kidnapping attempts as a growing concern, stressing that early reporting and vigilance at the grassroots remain critical to neutralising threats before they escalate.
He further revealed that the Inspector-General of Police has ranked the Rivers PCRC as the most effective in the country—a recognition he attributed to consistent engagement between the police and the public.
Our responsibility is clear—bridge the gap between the people and the police. That is what guarantees safety and creates an environment where businesses can thrive,” he added.
Echoing the urgency, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, described the PCRC as a central pillar in the command’s ongoing reforms aimed at restoring public trust and enforcing accountability within the force.
