•Seeks collaboration with NBA, CLO, BANGOF in Bayelsa

The National Association of Seadogs (NAS) also known as Pyrates Confraternity has unveiled its humanitarian advocacy plan for the August 2024 to July, 2025 with the renewed partnership with Civil Society groups and Non-Governmental organisations in the campaign against congestion of prisons, Increase in Youths addiction to illicit drugs and cult activities in Bayelsa State.

The NAS, Ox-Bow Marine Deck, said that the partnership with civil society groups such as the journalists, the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the umbrella body of over 40 NGOs that are active in Bayelsa, the Bayelsa Non-Governmental Organizations Forum (BANGOF), will ensure wider reach of the new calendar year campaign on human rights advocacy.

The Leader of the Ox-Bow Marine Deck of the Pyrates Confraternity, Engr. Timothy Egbonoje, during a session with Journalists and members of the Civil Society groups, pointed out that the idea of setting up the Confraternity was to correct some of the anomalies in the society.

“Our aim and objective is to correct the ills in the society where necessary.We also try as much as possible to correct the discriminatory anomalies in our society.

“We are not violence neither do we coerce people into our fold. We intend to partner with the media and CSO to correct the mindset of the populace about our members and our activities and we believes in peaceful dialogue,” Egbonge said.

Egbonoje explained that part of their activities include medical outreaches, seminars, sensitization, counselling program in schools, health awareness for girl child among others.

He said they also collaborate with the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency yearly to sensitize youths on the danger of drug abuse.

“We are also planning to collaborate with the Nigeria Bar Association to fasten the process of justice due to undue delay in the dispensation of justice. We believe in the protection of citizens’ rights.

“Every year we take it upon ourselves to carryout medical missions in all the three senatorial district in Bayelsa amongst other engagement “.

He said the association Is open to every members of the public.

“We are not into any secret things or evil agenda,” he said

On the campaigns against cultism in schools, Egbonoje in response to question on campaign in higher institutions, said despite notable achievements recorded in secondary schools in Bayelsa State, “We don’t take campaigns to campuses to avoid our intention being misconstrued.”

He said the past calendar year has been fulfilling for the NAS, Ox-Bow Lake Marine Deck with medical missions, Blood donations at the Federal Medical Center, Anti-Drug Abuse campaign, Seminars, Counselling programmes in schools and Health awareness campaign for the girl child.

He however assured the media practitioners of the intentions of the NAS to offer comments on state and national socio-economic issues as at when due.

“We will consult with organisations, sample the pulse of the state and the nation and ensure our comment is constructive. One thing we bring to the table is the reach within and outside Bayelsa State.”

Also speaking, the Chairman of the CLO in Bayelsa State, Comrade David West welcomed the proposed new partnership with the leadership of NAS in the state, declaring that with the hands of fellowship from NAS, the protection of human rights and justice is assured.

Comrade Tari Boco of the BANGOF also expressed the confidence on the successes of the proposed partnership with NAS and suggested the leadership of the OX-Bow Marino Deck furnish the NGOs with its proposed plans.