Bayelsa seeks establishment of special waterways security outfit

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has appealed to the Federal Government to establish a special outfit to secure waterways in riverine Communities across the state in a bid to reduce kidnapping and other forms of criminality.

He made the call, on Thursday, when the Bayelsa State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Usman Ibrahim, and Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, Echeng Eworo Echeng, paid him a visit in Government House, Yenagoa.

Speaking further, Senator Diri said that due to the riverine terrain of the state, there was a need to establish an outfit that would give special attention to the waterways in the state.

While appealing to the Federal Government to establish the special security outfit, the governor expressed delight that road accidents had drastically reduced in the state, and urged the command to do more to reduce it to the barest minimum.

Diri, who lamented the dearth of federal highways in the state, tasked men of the command to provide more signages at strategic positions and also educate road users on their meaning.

He said: “Due to the dearth of highways and the special terrain of Bayelsa State, the waterways also ought to have equal treatment with the highways. I am sure that would bring to rest the issue of kidnapping and other criminal activities. May I use this opportunity to call on the Federal Government that we need equal treatment in our waterways?

“We are happy that crashes and other forms of accidents are not very common in Bayelsa. But that may be due to what I would describe as non-existent federal highways, unlike other states.”

Speaking further, the governor urged the new Commissioner of Police to ensure utmost respect for the fundamental rights of residents while tackling crime.

He noted that Bayelsa had a policy of zero-tolerance to crime and criminality, while assuring the new police boss his administration’s readiness to partner with the force to rid the state of crime.

He tasked Echeng to among other things check the rate of kidnapping in Yenagoa and other parts of the state, stressing that the ugly trend can no longer be tolerated.

The state helmsman urged the people of the state to cooperate with the police to make it safe, saying security was a collective responsibility.

His words: “We prayed to have a worthy successor to the retired CP of Bayelsa State and from my findings, we are happy to have you. You have the required character to serve. Your appointment is our prayer answered and we welcome you. Be assured that you will work in an environment of conviviality and friendliness.

“As a government, we have said that criminality does not discriminate. Our common resolve is to ensure that Bayelsa State is free of criminality and the policy of this government is zero tolerance to crime and criminality.

“We want the citizens of this state and residents to sleep with their two eyes closed. Listening to you, clearly you are not a new comer. You have been here before and your record showed you are well experienced and have the training that the state would benefit from. I assure you that as a government we would relate and work with you at all times so that Bayelsa would be crime free.”

Earlier, CP Echeng stated that his visit to the governor was in recognition of his office as the Chief Security Officer of the state and to seek his support.

While stating his zero tolerance for corruption in line with the policy direction of the Inspector General of Police, he said the police would work closely with the government to make the state safe.

During the visit, the commander of the state’s special security outfit, Operation Doo-Akpo, DCP Ibrahim Bakori, was decorated with his new rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police.

Also, Sector Commander Usman Ibrahim revealed that there has been no fatal road accident in the state since May 2021, attributing it to the good roads existing in the state.

According to him, with the commencement of flight operations at the Bayelsa airport, the command would extend its operations to the road and ensure the safety of its users.

He said a road safety advisory council had been established at the national level and appealed to the state government to replicate it.

He also requested land to enable the command build a permanent structure in the state.

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Bayelsa seeks establishment of special waterways security outfit