War on Violent Crime in Bayelsa

AKANIMO SAMPSON

IJAW Monarch Declares War on Violent Crime in Bayelsa

APPARENTLY spurred by the action of the Bini traditional establishment last week in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, in combating the scorge of kidnapping and armed robbery, an Ijaw monarch in Bayelsa State, a haven of insurgency in the Niger Delta, has declared war on violent crimes within his domain.

The war is in continuation of his zero-crime-tolerance campaign in Ikebiri Kingdom, in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state. The monarch who is the Paramount ruler of the kingdom, Francis Ododo, lke VIII, has warned that henceforth, any person linked to criminal activities in the area will be handed over to the security agencies for prosecution.

A source within the monarch's palace at Ikebiri I, headquarters of Apoi-Olodiama Development Centre, told AkanimoReports on Wednesday that the royal father maintained that his administration will not allow criminals to hide under any guise to perpetrate crime in his domain, stressing that his council of chiefs was working in collaboration with stakeholders and security agencies to dislodge criminal minded persons in the area.

According to the source, the Ijaw monarch, Ododo, is of the view that the best way to attract meaningful infrastructural development to the kingdom, was to ensure a crime free society, pointing out that the area had been known for peace and hospitality, stressing that nothing less was expected from his people under his charge.

The monarch had disclosed that plans were on top gear for the formally inauguration of a central vigilante body, comprising youths from all satellite communities that constitute the kingdom, to check mate criminal activities in the area.

While commending the state governor, Timipre Sylva for his peace initiatives, the traditional used the occasion to assure all oil companies operating in the area safety, adding that the federal government’s amnesty programme has opened a flood gate of opportunities for the youths in the area.

He however, lamented that though Ikebiri Kingdom has several oil and gas wells, being a good host to Nigerian Agip Oil Company, among other subsidiary oil and gas service companies, the area has got nothing to show for it.

The royal father reiterated that the peaceful disposition of Ikebiri people, coupled with their love for visitors, has endeared the kingdom to traders from neighbouring states, who patronize its market, located at Opuaduno, informing that the Ikebiri market has remained one of the oldest local markets in the state, without government’s presence.

He said the central vigilante body would be saddled with the responsibility of ensuring visitors’ safety, including traders and corporate organizations doing business in the area without molestation from criminals, hiding under the guise of youth groups that were not accredited by the chiefs’ council.

Francis Ododo therefore, enjoined members of the public to report any person, or group of persons, suspected to be criminals, to the chiefs’ council or the nearest police station for possible arrest and prosecution.

The monarch averred that the zero tolerance for crime campaign in the kingdom, would be sustained as part of his regime’s vision to attract investments and infrastructural development to the kingdom.

ENDS

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