The Rivers State Po­lice Command has declared its deter­mination to stop kidnapping in the state as it launches a “Stop kidnap­ping” campaign on Friday.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tunde Ogun­sakin, announced the com­mand’s resolve yesterday, while briefing journalists in Port Harcourt.
Ogunsakin said the com­mand had reduced the rate of abduction in the state, adding that the number of rescued victims had been overwhelming. He said the police were not happy with the reported cases of kidnap, stressing that the crime must be nipped in the bud.
“The number of arrest we made and the number of vic­tims we have even rescued were overwhelming. Kid­napping is too bad, we don’t want a situation where any­body would be kidnapped. That is why we want to sen­sitise the people that kidnap­ping should stop.
“We want to ensure that kidnapping is stopped in Rivers State. We are not happy with all these cases of kidnap. People should be able to do their work freely without any hindrance,” he said.
The state police boss ad­vised members of the pub­lic to be wary of those they employed as house-helps, citing a case where a house­boy arranged for the abduc­tion of his boss. He said after rescuing the victim and the boy’s account was checked, millions of naira was found.
He advised: “Before you employ a houseboy, check the background very well,” adding that most kidnap cas­es were carried out through information from a close source.
The police commissioner said the command had put security mechanisms in place, including the provi­sion of a dedicated telephone number to police stations in the state.
Ogunsakin said the dedi­cated number was to ensure that distress calls were re­sponded to promptly by the police, before the criminals would leave the scene.

Police declare war on kidnappers in Rivers