The Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, has said that the State Volunteer Service would be empowered to recruit a minimum of 8,000 youths to work closely with the security agencies to consolidate on the gains already achieved in the security sub sector.

Governor Dickson, who stated this on Wednesday while inaugurating the Local Government Vigilante Coordinators in Government House, Yenagoa, charged them to provide community-based intelligence on criminal activities across the state.

He also urged the Vigilante Coordinators to recruit 3,000 youths from all the communities in the state to assist in checking all forms of criminal activities ranging from petty robberies, cultism, pipeline vandalism, sea piracy to kidnapping.

This is in addition to the 5,000 already in services of the Bayelsa volunteers.

Governor Dickson, who reaffirmed his administration’s stance not to play politics with issues on security, emphasised that, the government would not condone acts capable of breach of the peace in the state.

According to the Governor, the government will continue to invest in the security sub sector to sustain the existing peace and stability, towards creating an enabling environment for investments to thrive.

The Governor therefore said his administration would soon provide additional patrol vehicles and other logistics to enhance the operations of the various security agencies in the state.

He said: “This state must be kept peaceful for every human being irrespective of political parties. Everybody knows that we don’t play politics with security. But those who want to hide under politics to disrupt the peace of any community, terrorise people, I’m getting ready to draw a red line.

“I charge you to work fearlessly and get all the information about what is going on in our communities and in the creeks because we want Bayelsa to remain peaceful. Nobody will be allowed to disrupt the peace of the state. I will tell the Commissioner of Police to deploy a senior officer to work with you as to how you will do your job. Get prepared to identify a minimum of 3,000 youths to work with you from every community in this state.”

Parkins Ogede is the State Chairman of the Local Government Vigilante Coordinators, Ineifie Ide, Vice-Chairman, while Ari Fekorigha is to serve as Secretary.

The Local Government Coordinators are Otoru Olayefa, Brass; Oruge Koru, Ekeremor; Lucky Iziri, Kolokuma/Opokuma; and Mr. Ayebainnaemi Kalango, Nembe. Others are Kodomi Igoniwari for Ogbia LGA; Ebedamaowei Sagbegha, Sagbama; Animiyefa John, Southern Ijaw; and Bonas Sammy for Yenagoa.

Responding, the State Chairman of the Coordinators, Mr. Parkins Ogede, assured the State Government that they would carry out their task with diligence by working with community leaders and security agencies to keep the state peaceful.

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