In a bid to stern the menace of kidnapping and criminal activities by sea pirates, the Bayelsa State Government has issued a directive for the registration of all engine boats plying the waterways of the state with a speed capacity of 200-horsepower and above.
State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Paul Okafor gave the directive while speaking with newsmen shortly after the 32nd State Security Council meeting in Yenagoa.
Okafor noted that intelligence gathering by security agencies in the state revealed that of recent, kidnappers had been carrying out their operations in the state with high-speed capacity boats.
He said the state police command and other security agencies were determined to check crime and criminality with a renewed vigour, most especially as the state governorship election drew closer.
According to Okafor, compelling owners of such high-speed engine boats to register them would make room for easy identification to help check criminality on the waterways.
Governor Seriake Dickson, who declared the meeting open, vowed not to allow perpetrators of crime and violence to use the state as a launch path to truncate the prevailing peace and stability in the Niger Delta region.
He expressed displeasure at the resurgence of kidnapping in the state and warned those who engaged in the unwholesome practice and other criminal activities to desist forthwith or face the wrath of the government.
Dickson said: “Let me use this opportunity to advise those misguided few, who are into kidnapping to stop forthwith. Those of you, who may still have one or two in your custody should release them.
“Also, for those of you, who are involved in sea-piracy, armed robbery, rape and all other criminal activities, Bayelsa is not a safe place to harbour any of these criminal activities.
“Government and security agencies are keenly following security developments in this state and our region. And we are united and resolute in seeing to it that our state cannot be used as a launch pad for any criminal act in this region”.
He enjoined youths in the state not to succumb to the temptation of crime and other forms of criminality, advising them to keep away from acts that were destructive to their future.
Dickson said in other to maintain national security, his administration would continue to work cooperatively with the Federal Government to crack down on unrepentant criminals, who were hellbent on truncating the existing peace in the state.
While reaffirming his administration’s commitment to the maintenance of peace, law and order, the governor commended security agencies and people of the state for working with the state government to record its current level of achievements in security.
He said: “I want to appreciate our security services, because if you look at the crime statistics in the whole country, the crime statistics of this state is still one of the least among the states in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“And that is as a result of the dedication and commitment of our wonderful commanders and the leadership they are providing for their men and officers. I’ll also like to commend the cooperation of the citizenry, without which security cannot be possible, because it is everybody’s business”.
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