BY PHILIP EKE, YENAGOA
Bayelsa State which was created from Rivers State on October 1 1996,
before its creation the area known as Bayelsa comprised three Local
Government Areas namely, Brass Local Government Area (BALGA), Sagbama
Local Government Area (SALGA) and Yenagoa Local Government Area
(YELGA). The name Bayelsa was coined from BALGA, YELGA and SALGA.
Administratively, the State is made up of Eight Local Government
Areas, Nembe, Ogbia, Sagbama, Southern Ijaw, Brass, Ekeremor,
Kolokuma/ Opokuma and Yenagoa Local Government Areas presently.
It is worthy of note that the terrain is 80%0 covered with water,
which makes security operations very difficult perhaps of lack of
operational equipment such as gunboats, manpower, among others. That
often makes security operation cumbersome. It is a known fact that the
State is a peaceful state, but kidnapping, cultism, pipeline vandalism
has been on the increased, recently which makes police and other
security agencies sleepless nights in overcoming the menace.
Several police commissioners have served wholeheartedly. The new
commissioner of Police Bayelsa State, Mr. Kola Sodipo, while unveiling
his security master plan in Bayelsa State, stated emphatically that
his tenure will mark drastic reduction of crime rate, perhaps of this
new methodologies in curbing the trend, he said, as a professional
serving Police officer, who has created a niche for himself, as well
appealed to Officers and men of the Bayelsa State Police Command to be
very professional in serving their father land in fighting crime.
Compol has already visited several sister security agencies, notably
the Joint Military Taskforce, (JTF) now code name Operation Safe
Delta (OSD) Civil Defense Corps among others, and solidified
collaborative effort.
The distinguished crime fighter, recently toured “A” Division,
Yenagoa, also visited Ekeki Division, where he encourage and gave his
striking lecture with officers, Inspectors and rank and files, also
had enlarge meeting with critical stakeholders, notably, the PCRC, the
vigilantes, market men and women, the two DPOs CSP Ebimor Ceylon and
CSP Peter U Ezebuike in their separate remarks appreciated the CP and
its entourage, there outline their challenges and achievements
At Azikoro Division, the DPO SP Fidelis Odunna, former Police Public
Relations Officer of Bayelsa State Police Command. In his brief
striking remarks stressed for the provision of more patrol vans,
walkie talkie, expansion of the Police post to accommodate a befitting
office for the traffic department, increase manpower among others, SP
Odunna equally highlighted that as a result of proactive efforts of
his officers and men of the Police Division, crime rate has been so
reduced, Azikoro community equally appealed to Bayelsa State Police
Command to establish Police Primary/Secondary School to carter for the
educational development of the community, in the vein the community
pledged to donate land for the unique educational project when
approved by the Bayelsa State Police Command.
CP in his swift response maintained the well trained community
oriented Vigilante and Professional work force of stakeholders in the
society would go a long way in solving the mirage of security
upheavals in Bayelsa State and Nigeria at large, stressing that the
police service Commission and the Inspector General of Police (IGP)
and other principal stakeholders are doing their best in providing the
needed support, but the basic problem faced in Bayelsa State is
funding, and lack of manpower. CP pledged to increase the manpower
when the Police recruitment is over. CP Sodipo also reaffirmed strong
term in creating an enabling environment of term works through policy
trust, commitment, ultimate collaboration, Police Public Partnership
(PPP) as a watch dog as a model in modern policing.
At Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State in his recent visit to
formularize himself with various Police formation, on arrival, the
Chiefs Council, the Chairman of the Nembe Council of Chiefs, King
Edmond Daukoru, the Amayanabo of Nembe Kingdom, who was former
Minister of Petroleum Resources, former OPEC President, in his welcome
address thanked the Commissioner of Police and presented several
security issues, King Daukoru asserted that Police should create a
Community awareness of crime problems and methods of increasing the
Police Force in Nembe Local Government to enable the Police deal with
actual or potential criminal activity in a method that is swift,
effective and Placing emphasis on safety to the entire Local
Government, also to eliminate citizen apathy about reporting a crime
to the Police.
The Royal father equally affirmed that many oil companies are located
in the Local Government Area, but the basic problem faced is neglect
of GMOus which often forms causes youths restiveness and rancor, but
with the proactive intervention of the chief council most times crises
had been diverted or reduced, call for Police intervention in
fostering unity, peace love and more rapid developing of Nembe Local
Government Area.
Compol sodipo at the Chiefs’ palace and also addressing a great crowd
of Police officers, inspectors, rank and files, the CDC; PCRC, Youth
groups, NYSC members in Nembe Local Government Area, Commended the
good people of Nembe for the peaceful disposition, although, there are
issues of insecurities such as kidnapping, sea piracy, oil pipeline
vandalism, while tasking the people of Nembe to be always law abiding
and should be their brothers keepers. CP Equally hinted that there is
new evolution of policing, geared by the former IGP, Mr. Solomon
Arase, nothing that the incoming IGP would uphold the tempo, the
reformation geared so far has tremendously brought crime rate very low
in Bayelsa State and the country in its entirety.
More so, commending officers and men for their forthrightness, equally
nothing that there is ultimate need of improvement. He said Police are
so visible, while heralding the crucial nature of Police Patrol in
every nooks and crannies in Nembe for the security of lives and
property, while tasking the youths to abstain from criminalities,
which he said would not do them good, rather than impoverished their
living standards.
The compol during his visits to Nembe Local Government Area also
inspected abandoned Police post, appealed to Nembe Local Government
council to renovate for proper use, the Chairman of the Council who
was ably represented by the Vice Chairman of the council, pledge, to
support the project completion, also appreciate the Commissioner of
Police and its management team for the kind visit.
At Sagbama Local Government Area of the Commissioners maiden visit,
which is Governor Henry Seriake’s Local Government, on arrival,
equally inspected guard of honour and was well recieved by the gallant
Divisional Police Officer, CSP Shadrack U thanked the CP and entourage
for the kind visit, whch is well boost their moral and commitment. The
Chairman of Sagbama Local Government Council, Hon. Michael Magbisa,
PCRC members, council of Chiefs, Youths, Vigilante members, were fully
in attendance. The chairman of the council promised to support the
Police whole heartedly with available resources, especially, the
completion of the expansion project at the division.
