The Nigeria Police Force, Rivers State Command has launched a Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) and inaugurated a civilian oversight board to strengthen the fight against violent crime, promote accountability and rebuild public confidence in the police.
The initiative, launched on Saturday, October 10, 2026, followed a directive by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, for the establishment of the unit across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, Olugbenga Adepoju, said the unit was established to address prevailing security challenges, particularly kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes.
Adepoju explained that the initiative would also strengthen police-community relations by integrating residents into the state’s security architecture, noting that effective crime prevention depended on public cooperation, trust and timely intelligence. He said residents were often the first to identify suspicious movements and emerging security threats, adding that information from the public could assist security agencies in preventing and investigating criminal activities.
The police commissioner explained that the civilian oversight board would provide a platform for community leaders, civil society organisations, legal practitioners, traditional institutions and other credible stakeholders to contribute to the unit’s operations. He clarified that the initiative was not intended to transfer police responsibilities to civilians but to establish a reliable channel for communicating security concerns, feedback and credible intelligence.
According to him, the board would also monitor the conduct and effectiveness of VCRU personnel, promote accountability and facilitate the timely sharing of information on suspicious activities and violent crimes.
Meanwhile in his remarks, the chairman of the occasion, Grant Ofor, described the launch of the unit and inauguration of the oversight board as significant steps towards improving public safety in Rivers State. Ofor said residents, including parents, traders, workers and children, deserved to carry out their daily activities without fear of violent attacks, expressing optimism that the new unit would contribute to crime prevention and a safer environment.
He however urged VCRU officers to demonstrate firmness in tackling criminality while maintaining fairness and professionalism in their dealings with members of the public.
“Be firm in confronting crime and fair in dealing with people,” he advised the officers.
Ofor also congratulated members of the civilian oversight board, urging them to justify the confidence reposed in them by promoting transparency, accountability and public trust. He called on traditional rulers, community leaders, youths, business owners and other residents to support the police by providing credible information and promptly reporting suspicious activities.
The chairman emphasised that public cooperation would depend on the assurance that information supplied to the police would be handled responsibly and residents’ concerns given appropriate attention. He further noted that security was fundamental to economic growth, investment and the creation of opportunities for young people.
Ofor called for adequate equipment, regular training and retraining of police personnel to improve operational effectiveness, while urging the public to remember officers who had lost their lives in the line of duty.
In his address, the Commander of the VCRU, CSP Julian Wealth, said the unit was established to prevent violent crimes, respond swiftly to emergencies, conduct professional investigations, rescue and protect lives, and ensure that offenders were brought to justice.
Wealth listed kidnapping, armed robbery, cult-related violence, terrorism, piracy, murder and other forms of organised violent criminality among the offences the unit was positioned to combat and investigate. She charged officers of the unit to operate strictly within the law, respect human rights, maintain discipline and uphold professional standards in the discharge of their duties.
“Rivers State will not be surrendered to criminals. We shall protect the innocent. We shall pursue violent criminals professionally and relentlessly. Above all, we shall remain accountable to the people we have sworn to protect,” she declared.
The highlight of the ceremony was the formal launch of the VCRU and the inauguration of the civilian oversight board by the commissioner of police. Responding on behalf of the board, its chairman, Innocent Nwakpudolu, a lawyer, pledged that members would discharge their responsibilities with fairness, integrity and a strong commitment to accountability.
Those present at the event included the Chairman of the Khana Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM King Suanu Baridam; other traditional rulers; and the Rivers State Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee, Voke Emore.
Others included the Deputy Commissioners of Police in charge of Operations and Finance and Administration, Assistant Commissioners of Police, Divisional Police Officers, tactical commanders, representatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and senior military officers.
