BAYELSA GOVT ALLAYS FEARS OVER INSECURITY
The Bayelsa State Government has allayed fears of insecurity in the state following the dissolution of the Bayelsa State Police Command security outfit, Operation Famou Tangbei (OFT)
Reacting to protests by some sections of Bayelsans over the dissolution, the state government, in a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Chief Nathan Egba, appealed for calm as Governor Timipre Sylva was putting heads together with security authorities in Abuja and Yenagoa to resolve the issue.
According to him, Sylva, who had been applauded for the enthronement of peace in the state and the Niger Delta region would not rest on his oars but work with other security agencies in the state to maintain peace.
The statement reads in part: 'It has come to the notice of the state government that some residents of the state capital and environs have started expressing fear and sense of insecurity due to the reported dissolution of the state's special security outfit, Operation Famou Tangbei, OFT.'
Government noted that such fears were as a result of the result-oriented actions of the outfit in combating crime, which people felt the state would be missing very soon.'It is necessary to re-assure people of the state that the Governor, Timipre Sylva, who was only last week, awarded an honorary doctorate degree by the University of Business and International Studies, Geneva, Switzerland, because of his efforts in ensuring regional security and international relations, will not rest on his oars.
'Governor Sylva will consult with the relevant authorities and stakeholders in Abuja and Yenagoa with a view to finding a solution to ensure continuos peace in the state,' it said. However, in the meantime, the state government will work with the various security agencies to maintain peace and a crime free society.
Governor Sylva, therefore urged all the people of the state to remain calm and go about their normal activities. The governor also warned those with criminal intentions to stay away from Bayelsa State as there was zero tolerance for crime in the state.