Diri wants special forces withdrawn from troubled community

The governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has called on the lnspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to redeploy the police Special Forces from the troubled Nembe-Bassambiri community, Nembe local government area of the state in order to restore peace. Crisis had erupted in the community in the build up to the general election on […]

The governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has called on the lnspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to redeploy the police Special Forces from the troubled Nembe-Bassambiri community, Nembe local government area of the state in order to restore peace.

Crisis had erupted in the community in the build up to the general election on February 15 last year, where three people were killed and others displaced from the community.

Governor Diri, while receiving the report of the judicial panel of inquiry set up to look into the communal crisis, also stated that the state government’s indefinite suspension of chiefs and the youth body in Bassambiri community in Nembe Local Government Area of the state was still in force.

He said: “l call on the Inspector-General of Police to reconsider and ensure the posting of those special forces to very troubled states where lives are lost on a daily basis so that rather than being an occupying force in Nembe-Bassambiri, they will be of more help to Nigeria.”

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The panel was instituted on August 15, 2023 to look into the crisis and proffer solutions.

The governor noted that the crisis bedevilling the community was more political than economic or traditional.

He stressed that no society can develop in an atmosphere of continuous violence and brigandage.

The governor also set up a five-man committee to review the report of the panel within two weeks and to advise him on its implementation.