By Bako Christopher
Port Harcourt, Nigeria – Members of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) of the Rivers State Police Command have donated N1.15 million to 11 patients at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Old GRA, Port Harcourt.
The gesture was part of activities marking the official launch of the unit slated for Saturday, October 10, 2026.
Led by its Commander, CSP Julian Wealth, the VCRU team visited the children’s and postnatal wards on Thursday, where it rendered financial support to help offset medical bills.
Wealth said the initiative was to demonstrate the people-oriented policing philosophy of the Nigeria Police Force.
“As part of activities to officially launch the unit, we decided to contribute money to visit sick people in the hospital and see how we could assist them financially,” he said.
“We are trying to let them know that the Nigeria Police Force is their friend, not their enemy. We are a people-oriented Police. This is in line with one of the Inspector-General of Police’s mantras – policing and the people.
“The IGP wants a police force that is loved by the people and a police force that also loves the people. We are giving this cash to show that we care beyond arresting suspects and fighting crime. We are also kind-hearted.”
Wealth commended the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, for providing the platform to show love to society.
“We are the people’s police and the people are ours. We love them and we expect them to do same,” he added.
The team also visited the Compassionate Centre for Physically Handicapped Children, Trans-Amadi, and the David Bassey Ikpeme Foundation and Homes for Children, Eagle Island, Port Harcourt.
The unit donated three bags of rice, one bag of beans, one bag of garri, five cartons of noodles, packs of tissue paper, soap and baby diapers to the two homes.
A representative of the David Bassey Ikpeme Foundation, Mrs Koko Bassey, thanked the team, saying the home remained committed to caring for children rescued by the police and entrusted to its care.
Similarly, Sister Mercy Akpan of the Compassionate Centre appreciated the gesture and commended officers for leaving their families to protect lives and property.
