While condoling with the family of a 16-year-old, Miss Seiyefa Fred, who was murdered by men suspected to be armed robbers, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Dr Boma Sparrow-Jack, said the state is working tirelessly to ensure that Bayelsa is not safe for criminals.
He said drug abuse and cultism is a national issue plaguing Nigeria, and that Bayelsa State is not left out in the committee states that are affected by the scourge.
Explaining further, he said the State government is working on measures to improve the state special security outfit, Operation Dou Akpo, to effectively combat crime and criminality across the state.
He also pleaded with security agencies and the judiciary to take advantage of the Bayelsa State Anti-cultism Law which gives them the right to detain suspects up to 60 days in the process of investigation and incarcerate them.
“The increasing wave of crime across Bayelsa State could be attributed to the increase in cultism and drug abuse amongst young Bayelsans. And the government is committed to putting in place measures to ensure that this situation is turned around and safeguard lives and properties.
“To also help our effort at curbing this menace, the Judiciary should also help by ensuring speedy dispensation of justice in the process convicting suspected criminals that are charged to court,” he added.