•As Security Outfit Vows To Fight Oil Theft
By Emmanuel Abi Couson
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has hinted on plans to revive the Neighbourhood Watch, a community-based security outfit set up by the state government under the immediate past administration.
Governor Fubara spoke on the consideration of reviving the security outfit when he met with its leaders behind closed doors at Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday night.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, the Head of Command, Rivers State Neighbourhood Watch, Mr Wogbo Isaac Lawrence, said they are overwhelmed with the assurances given by Governor Fubara after six years of neglect by the previous administration.
Mr Lawrence explained that, despite the lack of attention, no encouragement and remuneration, the security outfit had struggled on its own in sustaining about 1,150 personnel that it has posted, representing 50 each to the 23 Local Government Areas of the State.
He said: “The members of Rivers State Neighbourhood Watch, today, are overwhelmed with the promises made by His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State.
“For years now, this is six years, the agency has been abandoned but we, as the members of the Neighbourhood Watch, we are still working, and that is the reason why we came today, to see our Governor to revive the agency, and he assured us that he is going to revive the agency in a short time.”
Mr Lawrence further said: “By the grace of God, we are assisting and doing our best even when there is nothing in our pockets. By the time the Governor revives the agency, we will do more.
“For now, we are 50 persons per Local Government Area (LGA). So, we have a total of 23 LGAs, and we are 1,150 personnel of the agency. Before we leave here, there is an assignment given to us, and it is to fight oil theft in our locality. We are promising Rivers people that we are going to do something concerning it,” he added.
