Tension in Bayelsa Community over Alleged Invasion, as Group Calls for Sylva, Maciver’s Arrest

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

Palpable tension still envelopes Igbomotoru community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, as more protest and outcries continue to trail the military invasion, with a group calling for the arrest and prosecution of former State Petroleum Minister, Timipre Sylva, and his governorship running mate in the last gubernatorial election in the state, Joshua Maciver

Amid the ongoing protest, a group under the auspice of the Bayelsans for Accountability and Good Governance (BAGG) has written to the Inspector General of Police (IG), Kayode Egbetokun, and other security agencies over the armed invasion of the community by armed security personnel.

Despite denial of any complicity in the armed invasion by the Bayelsa State head of the Tanita Security outfit, Joshua Maciver, the group alleged that the order to invade the community was masterminded by Chief Timipre Sylva and Joshua Maciver.

The group, therefore, called for the immediate investigation and arrest of Sylva and Maciver over allege complicity.

According to the group, despite the protests and allegations against Joshua Maciver for attempting to violently install a new paramount ruler in the community, preliminary investigations showed that the use of military gun boats and security personnel attached to the pipeline surveillance firm, Tantita Security Services Limited, implicated the duo of Sylva and Maciver.

The group in a statement issued yesterday by its spokesman, Pere Solomon, also alleged that the invasion of Igbomotoru is related to armed action against those opposed to the failed governorship election of Sylva in the state.

Solomon said the BAGG are solidly behind the position of the traditional ruler, elders, youth leaders and women of the Igbomotoru community, and across the state against the covert and armed attempt to subvert law and order in the community.

He said: “We back the community in its claim that Joshua Maciver is the alleged mastermind of the armed invasion to oppress them and to also install one Friday Jonathan, who had been rejected as paramount ruler of the community.

“We also confirm that the community, which had been peaceful before and after the outcome of the election, is gradually being thrown into crisis which may result in bloodshed if those involved are not cautioned and arrested.

“We call on the federal and state governments to check the activities of Tantita Security, Chief Timipre Sylva and Joshua Maciver in order to promote dialogue and avoid bloodbath in the state, because neither Tantita Security personnel, Chief Timipre Sylva, and Joshua MacIver has a monopoly of violence and armed struggle.

“While we call on Governor Douye Diri not to allow Sylva and Maciver to replicate the bloodshed visited upon Nembe-Bassambiri people on Igbomotoru community, the IG and the Chief of Defence Staff should check these rising security breaches, including the destruction of lives and property, to quell rising tensions across the state.

“The top echelon of the security agencies should order for an investigation into the allegations that some staff of Tantita Security Services in September 2023, while patrolling the rivers in gunboats, invaded Okpotuwari, a community in the area, where it allegedly caused mayhem, fear, and destruction of lives and property.”

He added: “Elections have come and gone, and we have a mandate to protect lives and property in Southern Ijaw LGA, and as such, politicians plotting political vendetta should be reminded that nobody, no matter how highly placed, will be allowed to toy with the peace in the LGA. We call once again for the security agencies to act swiftly and diligently to protect lives and property in Southern Ijaw.”

The deputy governorship candidate of the APC and state Coordinator, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (Bayelsa Operations), Joshua MacIver, had in a statement issued last Monday, insisted that the presence of the military in community was to safeguard federal assets and by extension lives and property in the area and not to intimidate anyone.

On the issue of political intimidation, Maciver stated that he has always displayed a peaceful disposition before, during and after the election, and would not witch-hunt anyone for political reasons.