Human and vehicular traffic were brought to a standstill at Moscow Road and a section of Azikiwe Road in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Monday as youths marched in thousands to protest the recent military action that has stalled the operation of the State security outfit, codenamed Neighborhood Security Watch.
Under the aegis of Homeland Awareness and Sensitization Initiative, the group in concert with Rivers State Civil Society Organizations, stormed the Rivers police headquarters at Moscow Road, carrying placards to press home their demands.
As early as 8 O’clock in the moArning, the protesters had assembled at the nearby Sharks Stadium, and by 12 noon they proceeded to the Police headquarters, chanting solidarity songs, a development that left a long trail of gridlock behind.
It took some persuasion to the leadership of the protesters for them to realign their position and create a path which enabled the line of vehicles crawl past the blockade.
The leader of the protesters and State Chairman of Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Comrade Sotonye George told the police they were there to register their angst over the rising spate of criminality in the state, noting that police alone cannot fight crime in the State.
He said the State needed an organization like the Neighborhood Watch to complement the efforts of the police to curb criminality in the communities, adding that states like Lagos, Edo and many communities in the South West and the northern part of the country have similar outfits in place.
“Rivers State needs a Neighborhood Watch that would synergize with the police and other security agencies to curb the crisis especially cultism, kidnapping, killings and other vices that are rooted in the communities.
“The police cannot do it along and that’s why we are here to beg the police to allow the Neighborhood Watch to stay”, he said.
George drew the attention of police authorities that the agitation for community policing to compliment the efforts of the police was informed by the rising spate of criminality in the State early 2018. This scenario, he said, necessitated the enactment of the law by the State House of Assembly establishing the Neighborhood Security and Safety Corps, codenamed Neighborhood Watch.
“We are also pleading with President Mohammadu Buhari to allow the Neighborhood Watch to stay. Police, army and other security agencies should stop harassing them. Buhari should call security agencies to order and let them understand that police alone cannot do it. They should not play politics with the lives of Rivers people”, he declared.
Responding, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, Mr. Stephen Hasso who stood in for State Police Commissioner, Usman A. Belel, said the police welcome what he called genuine partnership with the force in the effort to fight and prevent crime in the State.
“In fact, you are duty bound to fight and assist the police in crime fighting and prevention”, he said.
Hasso, who was flanked on his left by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Akin Fakorede said the force is ready for support the group “as long as you follow the right path of fighting crime rather than the other ways. The Command will work with you so long as you do the right things”.
The protesters also marched to the Rivers State Government House where they were addressed by the security personnel and urged to continue with their non-violent approach to press home their demands. They later took their case to the office of the Neighborhood Watch in GRA where they were reportedly assured by management that their grievances were being looked into.
