Dickson hails communities for rescuing hostages

Posted by admin Bayelsa, Headlines, State News Wednesday, June 19th, 2013

Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has hailed the efforts of the people of Amatu and Ogbolomabiri in Ekeremor and Nembe local government areas for securing the release of two hostages, including a French national, abducted by suspected kidnappers.

The governor praised the leaders of Bassambiri in Nembe as well as Azuzuama, Lobia 1 and 2, Koluama and Ekowe in Southern Ijaw local government areas for their collaborative efforts with security agencies.

Dickson said: “The chiefs and people of Ogbolomabiri community, on suspecting the presence of kidnappers and their victims, conducted a house- to-house search and secured the release of the victim. They alerted the police, who got the kidnappers arrested.

“In Amatu community, the boat conveying the suspected kidnappers and their victims developed a mechanical fault, which left the boat drifting along the river.

“On sighting one of the victims, who was a white man, curious members of the community alerted the state’s internal security outfit, Operation Doo Akpo, who swung into action and got both the captors and the captive arrested.

“Some cohorts of the apprehended criminals went to the community for reprisal, but were prevented from causing any harm by the security outfit deployed to the community by the government.”

The governor urged other communities and stakeholders to emulate them, stressing that such efforts, if properly coordinated in collaboration with the security agencies, would curb criminality, lawlessness and other vices associated with the state.

He said: “Nobody in this state, no matter where you are and what you do, should feel that matters of security are for government alone. No, you are getting it wrong.

“Security of your life and property should be a collective business all the time. This we must do conscientiously, so that we can attract tourists and investors to create jobs for our youths.”

Governor Dickson enjoined youths to jettison acts of criminality and take advantage of the youth development, empowerment and rehabilitation programmes to reshape their lives and become useful members of their families, communities and the state.wp_posts