ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide has raised the alarm over the rising cases of kidnapping and other violent crimes in Bayelsa State in spite of the robust provisions of logistical support to security agencies by the Douye Diri administration.
The IYC said though the Bayelsa State government recently provided over 40 patrol vehicles and financial support to boost security agencies, the spate of violent crimes remained high.
The group claimed that the situation was not unconnected with the low morale of the rank and file of the security operatives as well as lack of necessary motivation from their security heads.
The National Spokesman of the IYC, Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, alleged at a news conference in Yenagoa on Thursday that the heads of security agencies were not doing enough to stem the rising and worrisome trend in kidnapping, high profile killings and violent crimes in the state.
He claimed that instead of arresting perpetrators and prosecuting them, the crimes kept rising without security counter plans despite the huge investment in security of the state by the Douye Diri administration.
Ekerefe noted: “Though the security agencies are working, they are not doing enough to stem the worrisome trend. We are curious that despite the huge resources by Diri’s government to security agencies in the state, we are not getting value for the money being spent on them.
“There is available evidence that the morales of the rank and file are very low. The top echelon of the security agencies are not doing enough to motivate their men in taking their jobs seriously. Nobody in the state is happy about the high rate of kidnapping and criminality in the state.
“As IYC, we believe that the security agencies are not doing their jobs effectively. People come into the state and kidnap with impunity and nobody has been arrested. Nobody has been made to pay for the crimes they have committed and it has made the criminals to be emboldened to carry out more atrocious acts.
“The borders of the state are porous and security operatives seem not interested in searching and querying what goes into the state and comes out.”
He, however, pointed out that the worrisome trend had made the security of lives and property everyone’s business, noting that the state government had provided the needed support, but wondered what was preventing the security agencies from carrying out their legitimate duties.
Ekerefe informed that Ijaw youths in all the clans and communities in the state had been placed on the red alert to gather and provide intelligence to security agencies in order to stop the worsening security challenges.
He stated: “There must be collaboration between the security agencies, Ijaw youths, traditional rulers, community leadership and other stakeholders to nip in the bud the worrisome security situation.
“It is not when there is a security crisis, they run to the Governor with more memos for approvals. These agencies must do their work effectively. As we are going into another round of elections, if we don’t speak out, some political elements that don’t mean well for the peace in the state could capitalise on it.
“There should be no sacred cows in fighting crimes and criminality. Is it a crime for the people of Bayelsa to live peacefully? The state security outfit, Operation Doo Akpo, should also rise to the occasion and boost the morale of the rank and file of the outfit.
“Instead of addressing the worrisome crimes, they are going after petty issues that can be resolved by the dispute and conflict resolution desks. We want to believe that the efforts of Governor Douye Diri are not being undermined by some fifth columnists. Enough is enough!”
The IYC spokesman called on Governor Diri to summon a security summit to address the issues, saying that traditional rulers and youth presidents involved in activities that condoned criminality should be exposed.
He equally said that heads of security agencies not using the huge funds being approved by the government for intelligence and motivation of operatives should also be exposed.
Ekerefe condemned youths for not doing enough to assist the security agencies to arrest those involved in crimes and criminality.
He also called for the unconditional release of all those abducted in the interest of peace, stability and development in the state.
