BAYELSA UNVEILS NEW STRATEGIES TO CURB SEA PIRACY
BY FELIX JEREMIAH, YENAGOA
In pursuance of credible policing in the water ways in Bayelsa State, especially in the creeks and the inter lands, the Bayelsa Marine Police has unveiled new strategies that will enable it curb the frequent occurrences of sea piracy, kidnappings and other atrocities in the waterways.
This was disclosed recently by the Bayelsa State Marine Police Officer DSP Iwuozo Chinedu soon after an enlarged stakeholders meeting with maritime operatives at the marine police headquarters Yenagoa.
The Marine Officer thanked the leadership of the maritime Workers Union for the synergy and cooperation that have so far received from them and also encourage other stakeholders to follow suit as this synergy has brought a lot peace.
He said a lot can be achieved through robust intelligence gathering and passing of information on ‘need to know basis’ to ensure safety and proper management of information, especially the area of protection of informant, adding that this element was very necessary for confidence building and free flow of information between the informant and law enforcement agents.
DSP Chinedu on behalf of the Officers and men of Bayelsa State Police Command especially the Marine Section, under the Department of Operation and urged all and sundry to work with the marine police to make the waterways safer in Bayelsa State.
The meeting was based on the sensitization of the participants on need for security consciousness and counter terrorism measures, the adoption of better strategies that will reduce or totally eradicate the prevalence of sea piracy and other crimes and /offenses within the creeks and inland waters of Bayelsa State.
The meeting stressed the adoption of the use of metal scanners, reporting of suspicious person(s) and baggage’s, insisting on searching before boarding, ensuring that people who have no business with the jetties, passengers manifest and among others.
Other areas of critical deliberations were the application of safety measure such as use of life jacket, fire extinguisher, first aid box and lifebuoy, avoidance of overloading and night sailing.
The meeting was well attended by most of the maritime domain, except representatives of fishermen, local and diggers and dredgers association.
The participants applauded the initiative and pledged to partner with the police and actualize these objectives.
They solicited for the Commissioner of Police and Bayelsa State Government to assist in the provision of metal detector and among other crucial items as gunboats, communication gadget among others.
while congratulating the new inspector General of Police Suleiman Abbah on his recent appointment, the stakeholders called the inauguration of the Marine Police PCRC in Bayelsa State for effective policing.
