Gov. Dickson
The Bayelsa State Government says concerted efforts are being made to check acts of criminality such as sea piracy, thuggery and brigandage before, during and after the 2015 general elections in the state.
Governor Seriake Dickson, who gave this assurance, while opening the 21st State Security Council meeting at Government House in Yenagoa, maintained that, the days of militia and gunrunning were over; stressing that, the institutions of the State will not succumb to partisanship and undue pressure.
The Bayelsa State Governor, who used the occasion to formally welcome the new State commissioner of Police, Mr. Valentine Ntomchukwu, commended the security agencies in the state for collaborating with different apparatus of state to maintain peace and security.
He reassured the new police boss of the support of the government, while also urging members of the public to cooperate with him in the fight to end and completely flush out cases of kidnapping and piracy in the state.
Briefing newsmen after the State Security Council meeting, the Commander of the Joint Task Force, JTF, Major General Emmanuel Atewe, remarked that, the Government’s efforts at protecting the lives and property of travelers as well as critical assets of the nation and multinationals was yielding positive results.
He noted with satisfaction that, oil bunkers and other criminal elements that once terrorized the creeks and most of the riverine communities around the State were now on the run.
According to him, the various security agencies have been fully equipped with men and materials to clamp down on cases of kidnapping and other sundry crimes, stressing that, pipeline vandals and oil thieves were also disappearing from the creeks and their other hideouts.
His words “the creeks are too hot for the kidnappers and the security agencies are not relenting in their bid to rid the state of criminals.”
General Atewe also acknowledged the personal commitment of the State Governor to security matters, adding that, he has always supported the various security agencies in their efforts at tackling security challenges across the State.
Also speaking, the new Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State command, Mr. Valentine Ntomchukwu remarked that, though, the meeting was his first, he was fully briefed by his predecessor on the peculiar security challenges of the State and the technicalities involved, pledging to build on the strategies he met on the ground.
He assured that, working with other security agencies, the police will continue to do its best in the task of reducing crime to its barest minimum in the State.
On his part, the State Commandant, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu sounded a note of warning to criminals to turn a new leaf or be prepared to face the full wrath of the law.
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