Bayelsa Assembly sacks security outfit, says they’ve compromised

By Innocent Imoh


A member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Retd. Colonel Bernard Kenebai, has defended the decision of the legislators to sack Darlong Security Services, saying it was done in the interest of the state.



According to him, the company which was commissioned to tackle issues such as oil theft, illegal bunkering and other sundry crimes has now turned around to be the chief sponsors of those crimes.



Kenebai who sponsored the motion that led to the resolution said it became imperative following some security reports that the company‎ was engaged in illegal activities.



The former Security Adviser to the Bayelsa State Goverment said there was nothing political about the resolution as the assembly was clearly acting on its mandate of ensuring that the state remains safe and peaceful ‎.



The lawmaker stated that communities such as Ondewari, Korokoresi, amongst others have been under series of attack from operatives of the company's taskforce.



While calling on Bayelsans not to be swayed by the reactions of agents of the company, Kenebai challenged the management to submit themselves for investigation on the wide allegations that‎ they are recruiting cultists and stock pilling various arms and ammunitions.



He described as mischievous the decision by some persons to play politics with the resolution by dragging the name Governor Henry Seriake Dickson into the matter rather than coming out to clear their name, adding that it was “another failed political attempt to run the governor down.”



Kenebai said, “Darlong Security Services has gone out of their original mandate and have started inflicting pains, hardship and sorrow to people of Southern Ijaw and other areas of their operation. Their activities have become‎ a recipe for chaos which needs to be stemmed immediately.



"As an assembly we have received complaints of the illegal activities of the Taskforce of Darlong Security Services.‎ They have done more harm than good. So upon the presentation of the motion, the assembly resolved as follows: To call on the Governor of Bayelsa State as Chief Security Officer of the state to intervene and call them to order"



"Also mandated the House committee on security and special duties to further investigate the issue and report back to the House. And finally we called on our members at the National Assembly to raise the issue on the floor of the National Assemmbly".