By Jimitota Onoyume

PORT HARCOURT— Inspector General of Police, IG, Mr Solomon Arase, has ordered his men in the South South to mop up illegal arms in circulation in the region, saying that the Police will not allow cultists and armed robbers overwhelm Rivers State.

IGP-Solomon-Arase

Speaking, yesterday, at the headquarters of the Rivers State Police command in Port Harcourt, the IG flayed the proliferation of arms in the region, saying that his men should do everything possible within the ambit of the law to tackle the problem.

He also condemned the increasing cases of cult related attacks in the state, stressing that the Police will take steps to stem the tide.

“Rivers State  is peculiar in so many respect. It is an economic hub, there is no way we can allow a state of anomie. The proliferation of fire arms in the state and the South South is enormous.  We can’t allow these hoodlums take over the state. We can’t allow Rivers State to slide into a state of lawlessness. A situation were group of criminals kidnap people is unacceptable,” he said.

He called on the Rivers State Police Command to decongest Police cells in the state with the resumption of work at the state judiciary.

Arase who charged his men to obey the laws at all times, said he was worried with the number of land cases emanating from Rivers  State, adding that efforts should be made to resolve the cases at the state level.

“There have been avalanche of land cases in Rivers State. You see some of them have taken some time. They begin from the office of the Divisional Police Officer to the Area Command, Commissioner of Police, Zone 6 and then to Abuja.  You people should help the Police in these land cases. We will give Rivers people and Nigerians a police force that is responsive and listening.”