The New Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for Rumuolumeni Police Station, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Ngozi Ada Oha, has assured Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port-Harcourt that the Force would create a safe and secured environment for Staff, Students and University Community.
Speaking when she paid a familiarisation visit to the Acting Vice Chancellor of IAUE, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, recently, at the Council Chambers of the University, CSP Oha said she would deploy effective protective measures to prevent and mitigate threats and challenges in the institution arising from co-habitation of multitude of staff and students from different backgrounds, with diverse political ideologies, different orientations, trainings and religious inclinations.
She disclosed that most students join cultism not necessarily because they are cowards, but more because they have low self esteem, inferiority complex and want to undo each other, their lecturers and others that they perceive as weak and enemies.
DPO Oha described cultism as worse than stealing, and tantamount to killing, and encouraged those threatened to speak up.
She said they would regularly patrol round the campus to deter and respond to any criminal activity so as to bring to the barest minimum the menace of cult related activities.
The DPO, who informed that she enrolled in the Nigerian Academy since 2005, said she has served the force at different levels and capacities across the country, hinting that she has rendered security services at Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Lagos States before being transferred back to Rivers State.
She called for collaboration and partnership with the University Authority, on intelligence gathering to gain timely information communicated on potential security threats in the ivory tower.
Oha, who emphasized that information is key to solving societal problems, solicited for support in addressing security issues to ensure that the affirmation by the Director of the Rivers State Security Service that Ignatius Ajuru University of Education is the safest University in the South-South region of the Country remains the same under her watch.
She enumerated some of her achievements since she assumed office as Rumuolumeni Divisional Police Officer as uncovering plot by some cultists who came with cult badges for distribution at the Rumuolumeni Community, arrest of Operation Special Protection Area Command (OSPAC) Member who came to operate at the Rumuolumeni Community and “one chance operators” who came all the way from Ngwa in Abia State to carry out their nefarious activities in Port-Harcourt.
DPO Oha assured that her team would work amicably with the University to sanitize the institution and its environs.
Responding, the Acting Vice Chancellor of IAUE, Professor Onuchuku, thanked the DPO for initiating the visit and for the synergy.
While agreeing that institutions of higher learning and surrounding environment are sometimes volatile, he stressed the need to separate those who are just in the school to forment trouble with their devilish acts from those that are good and genuinely want to study.
He stated that “if a conscious and deliberate effort is not put in place to ensure a safe environment for the protection of the few good students, the likely tendency would be that the bad ones would influence and corrupt thereby creating a greater problem for everyone”.
Professor Onuchuku stated further that the University has zero tolerance for cultism, hinting that cultism is outdated as those who were once members have realised that it is very unprofitable and are now joining reputable organisations and rendering voluntary services to help people in dire need.
He vowed to deal decisively with any student caught in the act to serve as a deterrent to others.
He informed the DPO about the forthcoming examinations, adding that this is one of the times that Cultists cause mayhem, assuring that his doors will remain open for them to visit and work out modalities on how to stem the tide of cult-related activities and mitigate their menace.
The Acting Vice Chancellor explained that the University tries to maintain peace during Student Union Government week by closely monitoring their activities to prevent hoodlums from taking advantage of the week.
He expressed dismay that rather than engage in intellectual based symposiums that would stimulate knowledge, students opt for activities like Jeans Carnival with its attendant reckless driving, Beauty Pageant, Rag Day, Parties that adds no value to their lives.
While thanking the team for the visit and looking forward to a stronger relationship, he guaranteed that the University would provide the necessary assistance, support and logistics for the Police to ensure adequate security of lives and property in the University and its environs.
In a vote of thanks, Superintendent of Police (SP) Leko Denis, also the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) 1 of Rumuolumeni Police Division, appreciated the Acting Vice Chancellor for his comments and pledged that the force will work with the University to maintain law and order as well as prevent and control crime for the safety of all.
Also among the DPO’s entourage was the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), who is also the Station Officer (SO) of Rumuolumeni Police Division, ASP Alagba Emenike.