Dwindling revenue threatens security in Bayelsa State – Governor’s aide

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa state has explained why it is having difficulties in grappling with the insecurity challenges and gang-related attacks in the state.

The government explained that it has become very difficult to maintain its security architecture, including the security patrol vehicles of the state-owned security outfit, Operation Doo Akpo.

Mr. Boma Spero-Jack, the governor’s Special on Security Matters, gave the explanation on Tuesday when the Bayelsa State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) visited him in his office at Government House, Yenagoa.

Spero-Jack attributed the inability of the administration to sustain the security standard it created between 2012 and 2014 to dwindling revenue accruing to the state from the Federation Account.

He said, “Because of the drop in allocation that accrues to the state, government is unable to replace aged vehicles of the outfit that were usually stationed at red spots across the state.

“Before the election, we were all witnesses to the successes of Doo Akpo but when the election came, we all knew we would have lots of security challenges because politicians that gave guns to criminals to carry out their evil intentions failed to retrieve them from the criminals.

“In a society like that, what do you expect? People would be wielding guns and brandishing machetes. We usually had Doo Akpo vehicles stationed at every street in the state but today we cannot do that because the government has little resources and cannot buy new vans to replace the aged vans we bought since 2012 when we began this operation.

“It is not that we cannot go to the hideouts of criminals in the state but the problem is that the funds to pay the man hour and buy new vans are scarce, but we want to assure you that we will do something about your situation,” he stated.

Spero-Jack said that the government had tried to ensure prevention of acts of criminality despite the economic crunch.

He expressed deep concern over the repeated robbery and violent attacks on media establishments in the state, describing it as unfortunate and unacceptable.

The governor’s security aide also assured journalists practising in the state of the administration’s resolve to continue to do all within its powers to protect lives and property.

 

Earlier, Mr. John Angese, the chairman of NUJ, Bayelsa State Council, had lamented the increasing spate of violent attacks on media houses in Yenagoa by armed men, and called on the state government to live up to its responsibility to protect lives and property.

He noted that media houses were established to educate, inform and entertain the public, urging the government to strive to create a secure environment for media houses to carry out their duties without any form of molestation or hindrance.

Citing the recent violent invasion of Rhythm FM in Yenagoa and robbery attack at the state-owned Niger Delta Television (NDTV), among other such cases, the NUJ chairman appealed to the government to deploy security personnel at media houses, especially the NDTV that is situated on the outskirts of Yenagoa.