The Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) of the Rivers State Police Command has donated one million, one hundred and fifty thousand)N1.150) to eleven patients at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Port Harcourt, to assist with their medical bills.
The donation formed part of activities preceding the official launch of the unit, scheduled for Saturday, October 10, 2026.
The VCRU team, led by its Commander, CSP Julian Wealth, visited the children’s and postnatal wards of the hospital on Thursday, where it provided financial assistance to the patients.
Speaking with journalists after the visit, Wealth said the gesture was aimed at demonstrating the people-oriented policing philosophy of the Nigeria Police Force and reassuring members of the public that the police were concerned about their welfare.
He said the initiative was designed to strengthen public confidence in the police and demonstrate that their responsibilities extended beyond crime prevention and the arrest of suspected criminals.
According to him, the donation was part of the activities lined up to mark the official launch of the unit.
“As part of activities to officially launch the unit on Saturday, October 10, 2026, we decided to contribute money to visit sick people in the hospital and see how we could assist them financially.
“We are also trying to let them know that the Nigeria Police Force is their friend, not their enemy. We are a people-oriented police force. This is in line with one of the Inspector-General of Police’s mantras, which is about policing and the people,” he said.
Wealth explained that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, was committed to building a police force that enjoys the trust and support of the public.
He commended the IGP for providing the platform for officers to demonstrate compassion and implement the people-oriented policing initiative.
“We are the people’s police, and the people are ours. We love them, and we expect them to do the same,” Wealth said.
As part of the outreach, the VCRU team also visited the Compassionate Centre for Physically Handicapped Children in Trans-Amadi and the David Bassey Ikpeme Foundation and Homes for Children in Eagle Island, Port Harcourt.
The unit donated food items and other essential supplies to the two facilities, including three bags of rice, one bag of beans, a bag of garri, five cartons of noodles, packs of tissue paper, five packs of soap and baby diapers.
A representative of the David Bassey Ikpeme Foundation and Homes for Children, Mrs Koko Bassey, thanked Wealth and members of the VCRU for the donation.
Bassey said the home remained committed to caring for children rescued by the police and entrusted to its care.
Similarly, a representative of the Compassionate Centre for Physically Handicapped Children, Sister Mercy Akpan, expressed appreciation to the team for the support.
Akpan also commended the officers for their service to the community, particularly their commitment to protecting lives and property, despite the sacrifices involved in being away from their families.
