By; VICTOR DURUAMAKU, Owerri
The Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Imo State has resolved to partner with the Nigerian Police and other security agencies operating in the state in checking cultism and other societal vices.
Speaking during the end of the year activity in Owerri, the chairman of the PCRC Mr. Chima Chukwunyere said, already, the committee had taken the campaign against the deadly monster (cultism) to 38 schools, including Ngwa High School in Abia state.
According to him, during this exercise, over 2000 children were made to denounce their membership of the satanic gang, while the committee performed the investiture of the Chief of Staff (COS) Government House, Owerri- Mr. Uche Nwosu, as the grand patron of the PCRC, saying “we have dealt a fatal blow to cultism which is an incubator of crime”.
Boasting that the PCRC has been the closest ally of the police since it was inaugurated in May 1984, Chukwunyere added that the committee which is selfless in nature, does not interfere or involve in criminal activities but cries aloud when the rich hide under the police to deal unkindly with the poor, the downtrodden and the defenseless.
He hailed the commissioner of police in the state-Chris Okey Ezike as a gift to the state, a quintessential police officer and a crime fighter, stressing that criminals now retreat on daily bases since he assumed office in the state.
“His office and his human relationship is really the best of examples for generations to emulate” he stated.
Enumerating the achievements of the committee, Chukwunyere said that while her life program for years on radio had been able to draw Imolites closer to the police, her intelligence information gathering has exposed some criminal gangs and also led to the recovery of arms and ammunitions.
“We have resolved so many police cases using the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) platform, including cases that were reported at zone 9 Umuahia, intervened and released over 3000 motorists at various roads for minor offences in addition to the unconditional releasing of innocent suspects who were framed up for robbery because of land matters.
The PCRC boss however appealed for the provision of a car to enable the organization to sustain her schools campaign program which he said costs about N4.5 million to bring to standard, lamenting that it has been dangerous and hazardous to approach checkpoints at night with private cars while rushing to respond to distress calls from motorists.
Responding, the Chief of Staff, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu Commended Imo PCRC for their campaign against crime, criminality and cultism, in 38 schools including Ngwa High School in Abia.
He also praised the PCRC for her efforts in their radio program which had drawn Imolites closer to the police.
He said that PCRC information gathering is second to none and promised to take over the completion of the remaining transit camp which will be named after him and also donated a bus to assist PCRC in their campaign
Adding his voice the commissioner of police Chris Okey Ezike said that he knew the Imo PCRC was the best before he came to Imo.