Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has formally requested Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun to withdraw his special force from Nembe-Bassambiri in the Nembe Local Government Area.
Governor Douye Diri proposed that, rather than stationing the police special force in the community, the Inspector-General should deploy these security personnel to states grappling with frequent incidents of residents being maimed and killed.
Over the weekend, Governor Diri made the call while receiving the report from the judicial panel of inquiry investigating the communal crisis in Nembe-Bassambiri at the Government House, Yenagoa.
Established on August 15, 2023, six months after the community crisis that began on February 15, the panel was instituted in response to the deaths of three persons and extensive property destruction.
Diri said, ‘We all must put our hands together so that all parts of our state will be peaceful. Today, we almost have an occupying police force in Nembe-Bassambiri. A special force from the Inspector-General of Police has been there before and after last year’s governorship election.’
‘We are told that the force was there to bring peace and normalcy to Nembe. But Nembe was far from war before the special force arrived. I believe that there are other states in the country that need the services of the special force more than Nembe-Bassambiri today.’
‘l call on the Inspector-General of Police to reconsider and ensure the posting of those special forces to very troubled states where lives are lost on a daily basis so that rather than being an occupying force in Nembe-Bassambiri, they will be of more help to Nigeria.’
While noting that the state government’s indefinite suspension of chiefs and the youth body in the community was still in force, he restated his call on the warring factions in the community to toe the path of peace.
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He further said, ‘For any one life lost, it is important to us as a people. We assure you that we will look at your recommendations and implementation will be done to the letter.’
‘Let me use this opportunity to call on my brothers in Nembe-Bassambiri that it is time for everybody to toe the path of peace. Peace is priceless. We cannot continuously be in a fratricidal war, fighting among ourselves. You can trust this government. What we want is lasting peace. With the calibre of people appointed into the committee, l am very sure that we will find the solution.’
A five-man committee, appointed by the governor, is tasked with reviewing the panel’s report within two weeks and offering advice on its implementation.
The review committee, chaired by Secretary to the State Government Gideon Ekeuwei, includes acting Chief of Staff Peter Akpe, Head of Service Biobelemoye Charles-Onyeama, and Special Adviser to the Governor on Legal Matters, Alabo Ozubide.
While presenting the report, Diepreye Omubo, the panel’s secretary, explained that although initially given 21 days, the committee sought and received an extension from the governor for the completion of its assignment.
On behalf of the panel’s chair, Justice Margaret Akpomiemie (retd.), Omubo conveyed that the task was finalized on September 29 of the previous year.