The Bayelsa State government on Sunday blamed rival politicians aspiring to contest the December 5 elections for the deaths of five slain security officers by unknown gunmen during an attack at a military post in Nembe.
The Bayelsa State government on Sunday blamed rival politicians aspiring to contest the December 5 elections for the deaths of five slain security officers by unknown gunmen during an attack at a military post in Nembe.
The Joint Task Force (JTF) base came under attack on Friday night, just hours after Governor Seriake Dickson issued a threat warning criminals to flee the State or face unpleasant consequences.
A statement issued by Daniel Iworiso-Markson, Governor Dickson's spokesman, expressed regret over the incident and assured that the Dickson-led administration would partner with security agencies to arrest the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
“All these acts of insecurity and brigandage are intended to put fear in the minds of the people ahead of the December 2015 governorship election," the statement said.
“As a government, we worked so hard and committed a lot of our state’s resources to achieve the peace we have been enjoying and it is sad to observe that, because of their political ambitions, some persons want to perpetuate violence, brigandage and insecurity across the state,” the statement also said.
Several kidnappings have also occurred within the past four weeks, the latest being the abduction of a 92-year-old local leader in Tombia community in Yenagoa who is yet to be freed.
James Diameri, a resident in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State's capital, dismissed the views expressed by the state government over the high level of insecurity in Bayelsa.
“It is rather strange that Dickson who had boasted of having the capacity to deal with miscreants is now shifting the blame to his political foes, but we all know that his administration has performed poorly in terms of security," Mr. Diameri said.
“Passing the blames on opposition politicians is simply acknowledging defeat," he commented.