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The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has advised the newly appointed Commissioner of Police in the state, Olugbenga Adepoju, to avoid attending nocturnal meetings that might influence him to act against the interests of the people of Rivers state.
Instead, the governor urged the CP to prioritise the welfare of the state’s citizens and work towards ensuring peace and stability.
Fubara gave the advice during a courtesy visit by CP Olugbenga Adepoju, the 47th Commissioner of Police for Rivers State Command, at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday.
The governor stated, “You are not new to our state, having served here before, particularly in operations. This familiarity means you are well-positioned to connect with ongoing issues.
“Your primary duty now is to collaborate with the government and other security agencies to maintain law and order, protect lives, and safeguard property in Rivers State.
“Remain apolitical, as you rightly emphasised in your address. Avoid nocturnal meetings in people’s houses that lead to declarations of war on Rivers people. That is my only advice to you.”
Governor Fubara tasked the Commissioner to develop a comprehensive strategy to address cultism among the youth and tackle kidnapping in boundary communities.
He stressed that while his administration has fulfilled its responsibilities to security agencies, it is primarily the police’s duty to tackle these challenges.
“The issues of cultism and its influence on students, which escalate into other crimes like kidnapping, must be reduced. It starts in schools and grows into something more dangerous. While we may not completely eliminate these problems, we must find ways to significantly reduce them,” Fubara added.
The governor noted that the former Commissioner of Police succeeded due to a strong partnership with the state government and assured Adepoju of similar support, provided he adheres to professional standards.
“On our part, we will continue to support you to ensure your success. If you succeed here, it will lead to further elevation in your career. However, a poor record here could negatively impact your professional growth,” Fubara warned.
In his remarks, CP Olugbenga Adepoju expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the people of Rivers State and acknowledged the state’s complex security challenges.
Adepoju said, “We will enhance intelligence gathering, strengthen our rapid response mechanisms, and build deeper trust and collaboration with the community. Our Command will remain firmly apolitical, neutral, and impartial, dedicated solely to maintaining law and order.
“While we will engage with political leaders and stakeholders to secure resources, such engagements will be conducted with professionalism and integrity.”
Following the courtesy visit, Governor Fubara and CP Adepoju participated in a decoration ceremony at the Government House, where two officers were promoted to the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.
The officers, Anthony Peter, the governor’s Personal Security Officer, and John Wakama, Provost Marshal at the Government House, were promoted from Assistant Superintendent of Police 1 to Deputy Superintendent of Police.
The decoration ceremony, attended by the officers’ wives, was conducted after the courtesy visit at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Friday.
