Mkpoikana Udoma 30 May 2017, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – An employee of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Mr. Tekena Iyalla, on Tuesday protested against what he described as incessant robbery attacks, killings and kidnapping around Ada-George area of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Iyalla who is also a Port Harcourt-based radio presenter and comedian, moved from Azikiwe Road in Port Harcourt to the Rivers State Police Command on Moscow Road to register his grievances over security lapses with the Commissioner of Police in the State.
He expressed worried that hoodlums invade his Ada-George area of Port Harcourt at will and that the kidnapping and killings going on in the area was alarming.
The comedian, who protested with only paints and a singlet said his action was to inform the police of insecurity in his area, added that he was discharged the same morning from the hospital, after been attacked by hoodlums in his area two weeks ago.
“I am not happy that criminals have turned Ada-George into their trade zone, where they come at will to thief, kill and kidnap.
“It may interest you to know that there has been a high level of criminality in Ada-George; cars are been snatched, people are missing, people are been shot, people are been killed, even that global incident (the killing of a Jumia delivery man) few weeks ago was at Ada- George.
“I have spent eleven days in the hospital after some armed robbers invaded my house and beat me up and carted valuables from my home. This is not the first time I am experiencing it. On a daily basis criminals visit us,” he decried
The NIMASA employee also charged the Rivers State Police to provide security for residents of Ada-George and expressed concerns over the issues of jurisdiction which he said the police had often used as excuse from rescuing him.
Iyalla who works in the Public Relations Department at NIMASA, Eastern Office in Port Harcourt, while addressing the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Administration, Mr. Cyril Okoro, bemoaned that each time he or any resident of the area called the attention of police, they (police) would use the claim of jurisdiction not to respond to distress call.
“Jurisdiction has always been a problem. What is the meaning of emergency or 911? For the past six months, I have been robbed, my child has been kidnapped three times. Last week Monday I was going home, I didn’t know I was trailed, they ran over me and wanted to kill me.
“I am here in solidarity with myself to tell the people who are supposed to protect our lives and properties that Ada George is off limit. We need serious police presence at Ada George. I am also calling for the establishment of a police station in my area (Ada-George Road) to ensure regular presence of police so that crime can reduce.
“The police station there is not well equipped, residents of Ada-George have to travel to Ozuoba Police Station over the problem of jurisdiction, and the Ozuoba police station has only one rickety, epileptic patrol team who cannot even move from one place to another. I want you to relay this information the Commissioner of Police because his statutory duty in Rivers State is to secure lives and properties,” he added.
In a swift reaction, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Administration, Mr. Cyril Okoro, assured the protester that his complaints would be transmitted to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Zaki Ahmed, for immediate attention.
Okoro assured that the Police is committed to providing security for the people of the state.