Bayelsa prohibits use oil firms’ security, assets for political activities

The Bayelsa State Security Council has prohibited the use of assets, personnel and security operatives on attachment to surveillance contractors of oil and gas firms for political activities in the state.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Kemela Okara, said in a statement that the council also decided to restrict assets, personnel and security operatives deployed to oil firms to the oil and gas platforms, which are their designated areas of operation.

Okara disclosed that the council, comprising the heads of all security agencies and top officials of the state government, also prohibited the use of security operatives attached to VIPs and political appointees for election purposes, in adherence to the stipulated guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He said that it was further resolved that the security agencies should not arrest, detain or restrict the personal liberty of any leader or member of any political party without adherence to constitutional provisions.

However, Okara said that the council decided that the agencies could arrest any leader of a political party found to have been involved in acts inimical to national security with immediate notification to the governor.