•Saro-Wiwa group lauds security agencies on professionalism

From Tony John, Port Harcourt, with agency report

Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has called for the arrest of politicians allegedly sponsoring killings in various parts of the country.

Dickson made the call when Abubakar Alhassan, Flag Officer Commanding the Central Naval Command, visited him in Yenagoa, the state capital.

In a statement by Fidelis Soriwei, the governor’s spokesman, Dickson said such politicians should be treated as ‘common’ criminals.

“It is our position in this state that crime is crime and security agencies should arrest and treat political leaders who are sponsoring criminals as common criminals because that is what they are,” the governor said.

He called on the naval authorities to intensify efforts to improve maritime security in Bayelsa.

The governor also enjoined the navy to combat sea piracy, kidnapping, oil theft, vandalism and related maritime crimes.

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“I count on you to combat and bring down to the barest minimum, the cases of piracy in the waters, cases of kidnapping, oil theft, vandalism of strategic national assets and so forth,” he added

He said his administration remains committed to enforcing law and order “because of the need to preserve the foundation for peace, security, stability and development in Bayelsa.”

Meanwhile, National Coordinator of Ken Saro-Wiwa Associates (KSA), Chief Gani Topba, has lauded the security agencies for their professionalism. 

Topba stated this yesterday, during a thanksgiving and dedication programme, at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) headquarters in Abuja, when members of the group staged a peaceful protest. 

Topba, who spoke in Zaakpon, Khana Local Government Area of the state, noted that during the protest against Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and RoboMichael Limited in Abuja, as well as in Port Harcourt, security operatives demonstrated high level of professionalism.

He declared that security agencies are no longer enemies of Ogoni people.

“If SPDC does not apologise to Ogoni people, it cannot penetrate Ogoniland. Robo-Michael Limited cannot tap Ogoni oil because the oil company does not have capacity. Ogoni oil is not a curse, but a blessing,”  he said.