Christmas, usually, is a period of celebration, although crime and evil also climax during this period.
This issue therefore throws up the challenge for extra work to enable the police and other security agencies ensure that their strategies are beefed up to counter the rising tension of these evil-doers and maintain peace.
Though the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, Mr. Mohammed Indabawa, through the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ben Ugwuegbulam, has assured the people that the police is battle ready to secure lives and property, come Christmas.
In as much as the capacity of the police may not be in doubt, there is need to practically demonstrate this promise when the time comes.
Experience has shown that the rate of crimes in Rivers State, nay Niger Delta, went down drastically after the militancy era, but current evidence indicates that crime rate in the region has increased again. For instance, there are rising cases of kidnapping, armed-robbery and other crimes of late.
Now that the Christmas is around the corner, it is expected that the present crime rate will double, if not triple.
This, of course, calls for concerted effort and renewed strategy on the part of the police and other security operatives to break even or even suppress the mark.
Anything short of building up the confidence of the citizenry will not augur well with the image of the police.
We suggest that the police should start sensitization program to inculcate into the people the need to imbibe, as a culture, the security tips to safe-guard themselves and their immediate surroundings. Safety, they say, starts from an individual, before spreading to neighbours and communities.
Christmas has come to stay and we cannot run away from that fact. What we need to do is to strive to make the period safe in our own interest.
We are aware that the Rivers State government, under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, has been supportive to the security agencies in the state, through provisions of equipment, such as vehicles, communication gadgets and even training programs.
What this calls for is reciprocation by way of efficiency and prompt service delivery.
Now that the yuletide is here, anything short of providing adequate security for the people will be distasteful.
In as much as we commend the police, Rivers State Command, for a job well done, there is need to improve on what is on ground. As long as there is life, we will continue to improve on what we have.
Our prayer is that the 2012 Christmas celebration should be hitch-free and devoid of crimes.
And until we hit the sky, there should be no dull moment.
Wishing you a hitch-free Xmas Celebration in advance.
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