PORT HARCOURT – The outgoing Rivers State Commissioner of Police,

AIG, Mustapha Bala, has officially handed over the mantle of leadership to CP Olubenga Adewale Adepoju, as the new Commissioner of Police in Rivers State.

AIG Bala was recently promoted to rank of an Assistant Inspection General of Police, AIG and was subsequently deployed to Zone 6 Headquarters, Calabar, Cross River state.

Speaking during a brief handover ceremony at the Police Officers’ Mess in Port Harcourt on Thursday, AIG Bala reeled out his achievements from October when he took over the reins of police leadership in the state to December 2024, when he bowed out.

The outgone CP however thanked the officers and men of the State Police Command as well as residents of the state for their support and cooperation, congratulating his successor, CP Olubenga Adepoju for his new office.

He urged officers of the command, Rivers People and the media to give the the new CP, Adepoju all the necessary support to enable him succeed in policing of Rivers State.

Bala said, “On 6th October 2024 at about 1745hrs, when I assumed duty as the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command. I immediately held a briefing with the Command’s Management Team, Area Commanders and Tactical Team Commanders.

“I commended the officers for exhibiting a high level of professionalism in the discharge of their duties. I directed that all security arrangements were emplaced during the course of the controversial local government elections be sustained while Area Commanders and DPOs to ensure that the various LGA Secretariat in their AORs remain secured pending further directives.

“I further charged officers to get

across to Headquarters for backup when the need arises. Tactical Teams were directed to sustain the operation show of force and confidence-building patrols across the metropolis and environs as all are enjoined to make adequate plans

to protect Police facilities and critical Government infrastructures in their

respective AORs.”

Responding, the new Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, CP Olugbenga Adepoju thanked his predecessor, AIG Mustapha Bala for his fatherly disposition.

CP Adepoju said, “On behalf of officers and men of the command,I express my gratitude to AIG Bala.He has seen us through alot.He has shown exceptional leadership.We enjoyed his stay in Rivers”.