Opu-Nembe: Policeman, Civil Defence Officer, Armed Youths Arrested

Operatives of the joint military task force, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), have arrested some youths with guns at a checkpoint at Otakeme community in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State.

It was gathered that at least one policeman and a Civil Defence personnel were also arrested along with the armed youths while on their way to Opu-Nembe.

The two security personnel who were believed to be on a special assignment to escort the gunmen to invade Opu-Nembe are now being detained at the Sector 2 Command of the JTF alongside the armed youths.

The armed youths were in two Hilux vehicles when they were arrested with the guns and this development suggests a lot of compromise by top police authorities.

In February this year, at least three persons were killed in the community as a result of the crisis in Opu-Nembe.

A security source informed that the armed thugs attempted to gain entry into Opu-Nembe under the cover of the armed policeman and the civil defence personnel deployed in both Bassambiri and Ogbolomabiri communities when they were apprehended by the OPDS personnel at Otakeme.

Another armed group from Rivers and Delta states was also warded off by the OPDS operatives on the waterways in the area.

Some members of the civil societies in Bayelsa State have called on the acting inspector-general of police to immediately arrest the ugly situation in Opu-Nembe and absolve himself from the armed invasion.

They have called on IGP to order immediate withdrawal of policemen in the community because of many identified thugs illegally wearing police uniforms.

The member representing Nembe/Brass federal constituency in the National Assembly, Hon Marie Ebikake has called on the police and other security agencies to spring into action to arrest the situation in Opu Nembe and stop the madness and mayhem by the gunmen to quickly restore calm and peace to the area.

She said, “Early morning situation reports today suggest that the area now bears a semblance of a ghost town with next to no profitable activities as many people are locked in or have hurried out of town out of panic and fear of what might come next.

“The air of uncertainty and chaos that engulfed the area due to the sporadic shootings by the gunmen last night followed through to this morning. Opu Nembe needs the immediate action and presence of the security agencies to rid it of these armed men as the feeling in the area this morning is that these men are still intent on causing more harm and damage.

“The motives for these attacks on the area are yet to be established, but with the volatility of the Nembe region in the past suggests political connotations. Whatever is the case, the security agencies need to swoop in now and stop the mayhem.”