Ijaw youths deplore rising violent crimes in Bayelsa

The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide has expressed concern over rising cases of kidnapping and other violent crimes in Bayelsa State.

The group said despite efforts by the administration of Governor Douye Diri to provide logistics to security agencies, the spate of criminal activities has increased uncontrollably.

The national spokesman of IYC, Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, during a media interaction in Yenagoa, yesterday, accused heads of security agencies in the state of not doing enough to stem worrisome trends in kidnapping, high-profile killings and violent crimes.

He said instead of arresting perpetrators and prosecuting them, crime kept rising without a counterplan, despite the huge investment in security by the Diri administration.

Ekerefe said: “The question we are asking is that despite the huge resources by spent on security agencies in the state, we are not getting value for money. There is available evidence that the morale of the rank and file is very low. The top echelons of the security agencies are not doing enough to motivate their men to take their jobs seriously. Nobody is happy about the high trend of kidnapping and criminality in the state.”

He noted: “We find it difficult to believe that the security agencies are not doing their jobs effectively. People come into the state and kidnap with impunity and nobody has been arrested. Nobody has been made to pay for the crimes committed and it has made the criminals to be emboldened to do more. The borders of the state are porous and security operatives seem not interested in searching and querying what goes into the state and comes out.”

He added: “We call on the governor and government of the state to summon a security summit to address these issues. Traditional rulers and youth presidents involved in activities that condone criminality should be exposed, and heads of security agencies, not using the huge funds approved by the government for intelligence and motivation of the rank and file, should also be exposed.

“Logistics approved to security agencies are meant for security matters, not private pockets. The patrol vehicles handed to security agencies are not for personal use but for security. These vehicles are not visible in the state.”