15th April, 2014
A special patrol team, comprising the Police, Army, Navy, Air force and the Department of State Security, has been set-up to combat high spate of kidnapping and armed robbery in the southern Nigerian state of Rivers.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Tunde Ogunshakin, jointly with other service commanders in Rivers, inaugurated the team code-named, “Operation Spark” in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Ogunshakin, who spoke on behalf of the service commanders, said the team would conduct “overt and extensive covert operations” both in remote and urban areas to curb crime in the state.
He said that troops attached to the team had received special and professional training to enable them restore law and order in the shortest possible time.
“The team, code-named Operation Spark, will take conventional law enforcement to areas that are somewhat difficult to operate with the intention to end criminal activities throughout the state.
“Operation Spark is a highly trained unit which primary mission is responding to state-wide distress calls in connection with kidnapping, terrorism, armed robbery and other forms of criminality.
Ogunshakin said the task force’s primary area of responsibility was to carry out 24 hours patrol of the state in order to disrupt criminal activities.
“Its missions include conduct of discreet and effective patrols of major government structures and installations to avert any form of sabotage.
“Drawing from the available intelligence, conduct arrest of persons who are into nefarious criminal activities or likely to cause insecurity in the state,” he said.
According to him, the team will respond to distress calls from the Joint Control Room and conduct raids on all criminal hide-outs and blackspots to dislodge all criminal gangs.
Ogunshakin warned kidnappers, armed robbers, oil thieves and pipeline vandals to stir clear of criminal activities in the state or face arrest and possible prosecution.
He said that adequate security had been beefed up in the state in preparation for the forthcoming Easter celebrations.
The commissioner called on the people to provide security agencies with timely information that would enable security personnel intercept criminal activities in the state.
According to him, the public should also note that all such information will be held in the highest level of confidence.
Present at the launching were service Commander of the Army 2 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Osasogie Uzamere, and the Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship, Pathfinder, Commodore Godwin Ochai.
Others are the Commander of the 97 Special Operations Group of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Jekennu Augustine and the state Director, Department of State Security, Mr Abok Nyam.