Bayelsa: Residents Heave Sigh Of Relief Over New Police Strategy Against Crime

Residents of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, are heaving a sigh of relief over the presence of road blocks, coupled with and and search operations mounted by the joint team of Police and other security agencies to counter crimes and criminality in the state.

With the new strategy on ground, the security situation in the state has improved more than it was a few months ago, when violent crime was the norm in the streets of Yenagoa, with prominent Igbo businessmen, bankers, individuals and politicians becoming easy targets.

The umbrella body of Ijaw Youths Worldwide, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), through its national spokesman, Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, raised concerns over rising cases of violent crimes in the state, despite the efforts of the present administration of Governor Douye Diri to provide logistic support to security agencies.

During that time, several residents had to relocate out of the state because of the terror faced by kidnappers. However, the security operatives rose to the challenge, arresting several suspects.

The introduction of new multi-dimensional strategy by the Police authorities led by the state commissioner, Benjamin Okolo, is already yielding results. Two dreaded kidnap gangs involved in the abduction of a known senior manager with the Premium Trust Bank, Danjuma Emejie has been smashed by the operatives attached to the Operation Puff Adder led by SP Chris Nwaogbo. Another kidnap gang specialising in the abduction of Igbo businessmen in the state is being tracked.

According to the Bayelsa Police commissioner, Benjamin Okolo, he admitted that the security agencies in the state in partnership with the Police, are constantly reviewing strategies to tackle the rising dynamics of crimes and criminality in the state. ”We have also responded by setting up “Stop and Search” in the state capital. When they change strategies, we counter them by changing our strategies. It has yielded a series of breakthroughs.”

A business owner, Chinedu Okafor, told me that many business owners in the state now close late due to improved security presence. “Before now, we suffered in the hands of these boys. But now, it has improved tremendously with quick response to security alert.”

Also speaking, a civil servant, Mrs. Ebiye Clara, said though the security in the state capital has improved, the security personnel should focus on internal streets as petty thieves are still operating ‘unchallenged’.

While several residents attributed the improved security to the joint patrol of Military/Police operatives, others agreed that the restructuring of security architecture embarked upon by the administration of Governor Douye Diri, is now yielding results as logistics are being properly utilised by the security agencies.