ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Police Commissioner Eteng E. Eteng on Thursday played host to the Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC), Dr Oliver Stolpe, and the National Coordinator of Police Campaign against Cultism and other Vices (POCACOV), CSP Ebere Amaraizu, at its headquarters in Yenagoa.
Stolpe commended the command’s helmsman on his crime prevention efforts in the state.
He informed the CP that the UNODC was in Bayelsa State to carry out community-oriented policing activities to improve safety, peace and security of local communities.
Stolpe said UNODC was currently working with POCACOV to develop a community-based crime prevention strategy for the local communities of the Niger Delta region.
He, however, said special emphasis would be placed on Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.
He commended the Nigeria Police Force on the POCACOV initiative, which he said, had the same vision with the UNODC in terms of community oriented policing approach to solving crimes.
He also assured the command of his organisation’s continued partnership at ensuring the strengthening of stakeholders participation to respond locally to issues of safety, peace and security.
In his response, the CP thanked the Country Representative for the visit and stressed that the importance of community-based crime prevention activities could not be downplayed.
Eteng assured him of the command’s readiness to partner and actualize the vision of the UNODC on community oriented policing activities.
Highlight of the visit was the presentation of the POCACOV digest, which features community engagements, strengthening of policing accountability amongst others, to the CP by the POCACOV National Coordinator.