Dickson: Criminal Politicians Enjoying FG’s Security Cover in Bayelsa

Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa

Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, yesterday alleged that some politicians he described as criminals and terrorists were enjoying the cover of the federal government-controlled security agencies in the state.

The governor who had recently raised the alarm over alleged amassing of weapons by certain politicians in the state, called on law enforcement agents to guard against the politicisation of security, thereby endangering the lives of residents.

Dickson who spoke when the new Bayelsa State Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), Mrs. Christiana Abiakam visited him at the Government House, Yenagoa, urged security agents to resist being used as tools by some unnamed political leaders in the state. He added that he would no longer condone acts of lawlessness in Bayelsa and urged officers and men of the Corps to exhibit professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

He said: “There are politicians in this state in some political parties who are complete criminals and terrorists killing people election after election. They are involved in all major communal problems.

“They use most of your (NSCDC) officers and men. As we speak, your men are guarding people of shady characters, parading as political leaders, including people against whom judicial process has commenced.

“So, my charge to you, is that while this government will continue to support law enforcement agencies to do their jobs better, the government and people will no longer condone a situation whereby uniformed men are used to intimidate, kill and maim people in this state.”

He also assured the NSCDC of the government’s readiness to provide a security platform on the waterways, stressing that he had already directed the Ministry of Lands and Survey to provide land for the building of an official accommodation for the new Commandant.

The new Bayelsa State Commandant had earlier assured the governor that the Corps would work closely with other security agencies to carry out their core mandate of checking pipeline vandalism and protection of other government facilities and assets.