The Bayelsa State Police Command on Tuesday enlisted the support of members of the public in combating crime.

The Area Commander in-charge of the Opolo, ACP Francis Ndabula, made the appeal during a meeting with members of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) under his jurisdiction.

He also urged residents and corporate bodies to partner with the police as well as PCRC, by providing useful information that will lead to the arrest of criminals in the area.

Ndabula also charged them to make the necessary sacrifices in order to achieve the aims and objectives of the committee

“I am excited that the Police Community Relations Committee has been formally established in my command and this will further boost security in the area,” Ndabula said.

He emphasised that membership was voluntary, noting: “It is an assignment that does not attract any form of remuneration and members are expected to carry out their operations discreetly and with dignity.”

In his remarks, the Coordinator of the PCRC in the Opolo Area Command, Mr. Chris Nwodoh, explained “the PCRC is a collaborative effort between the Police and civilians to secure the safety of our environment.

“It was established 36 years ago to enable civilians render service voluntarily to assist the Police to fight crime and maintain peace in the society.”

The high-point of the meeting was the election of the pioneer executive of the Committee to pilot its affairs.

The 12-member Committee is headed by Dr. James Neminebo as Chairman, Chief Polycarp Udeafor, Vice Chairman; Mr. Igbuasi Jerome, Secretary; Mr. Faithful Dengiyefa, Financial Secretary and Mr. Akins Mathias, Treasurer.

Others include Mr. Ebi Evinson, Publicity Secretary, Mrs. Amada Ebisinde, Assistant Secretary; Mr. Eketiomo Benson, Public Relations Officer; Mrs Esther Wonimieye, Welfare Secretary 1; Mrs. Ogiechi Ezenwanze, Welfare Secretary 2 and Mr. Vincent Ezeh, and Mrs. Blessing Ezekiel as Provost Secretaries 1 and 2, respectively.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. James Neminebo thanked members for the confidence reposed in him and promised that he will serve diligently and requested his colleagues to put in their best.

He also pleaded with members of the Committee to support the executive totally, given the fact that the Committee was a new-born baby.

The Chairman further promised that one of his priorities would be to build a Club House within the premises of the Command to promote better interaction and camaraderie among members and officers of the Command.