PHILIP EKE YENAGOA
A head of the general elections set to commence 28th of March, maritime stakeholders in Bayelsa State, under the aegis of the Bayelsa State marine Police Division, stakeholders of maritime workers union in Bayelsa State recently met to strategies operational modalities against violence during and after the general elections and also ensuring safety in the water way.
In an enlarge stakeholders meeting at marine division of the Bayelsa State Police command. The Chief Marine Officer Bayelsa State Police Command, DSP Iwuozo Chinedu C, while welcoming marine stakeholders to the epoch making event stressed for synergy in ensuring violence free elections during and after, noting that marine security is a collective effort.
The marine police boss outlined several strategies in ensuring free movement of people and goods in the riverine areas in Bayelsa. The state police marine officer equally noted the adoption of better strategies that will reduce or totally eradicate the prevalence of sea piracy and other associated crime / offences within the inland waters and also checkmate the threats of terrorist groups and militants.
To ensure the application of safety measures in boats, fuel dumps, floating filling station, among others, DSP Chinedu tasks owners of dredgers to maintain appropriate dredging locations to avoid interference with navigable channels and avert waterway accidents associated with such activities.
He as well emphasis the need for vigilance, application of proactive measures to discourage crime and to work out ways of timely reporting of incidences to appropriate authorities to engineer quick response in times of distress.
The forum discuss issues bordering on security alerts / awareness and information sharing intelligence gathering as a way of adopting strategies that will help to nip crime in bud and also aid apprehension of offenders.
Finally, appealing to marine time stake holders to cooperate and support in the spirit of community policing and support in the area of logistics in achieving the set goals.
Meanwhile, the representative of the Bayelsa State chairman of maritime workers union, Mr. Ebi Orukaria in his assertion commended the marine police of the great meeting stressing that the synergy of maritime workers would be seriously adhere in reducing the crime rate in the water ways while appreciation principal stakeholders who came from far and near in attending the crucial meeting.
