The Bayelsa State police command will be one of the busiest police outfits in the country in the New Year. The signs are there. Last year was tough and challenging. Without the strong will of the police Commissioner, Mr. Amba Asuquo and the anti-crime disposition of the state government, criminals would have run residents out of town.
Crime wave swept ferociously across the state especially Yenagoa, the capital city in 2017. Some residents murdered sleep following house-to-house robbery operations carried out by hoodlums, who operated with assorted weapons. Some were shot, many were injured and properties worth millions of naira were lost in the criminal operations.
Despite the efforts of the government, the police and other security agencies, cultists still operated in the state, robbing and shooting innocent people. Cult-related supremacy war occurred in some parts of the state capital and led to loss of lives.
In fact, 2017 witnessed some assassinations in Yenagoa. Some persons were murdered in unclear circumstances. In a single attack carried out by unknown gunmen, the state Chairman of Cattle Breeders Association (CBA), Alhaji Jubril Abdulkarim and three of his employees were assassinated in Yenagoa.
In another incident, a former Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Mr. Ayakeme Masa, was murdered in his house in cold blood by unidentified gunmen. The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) mourned the gruesome murder of an employee of the state-owned radio station, Glory FM 97.1, Mr. Famous Giobaro.
The state government rallied round to ensure that a female reporter with the African Independent Television (AIT), Owei Patience, who was shot at close range by a lone gunman survived the incident. In fact, 2017 was tough especially towards the yuletide
But Asuquo battled to tackle the development. He deployed many strategies that yielded positive results. Statistics at the end of 2017 showed that the police command stretched itself beyond the limit to fight crime.
The police commissioner displayed cache of arms the police recovered from suspected criminals. About 66 different rifles, 105 of 7.62mm ammunition, one dynamite, 190 cartridges, 12.9mm ammunition and one grenade were among the haul of arms ammunition in display.
Among the arms were 40 locally-made pistols, five locally-made double barrel guns, 11 pump action guns, three revolver pistols, one K2 rifle and 4 AK47 rifles. Asuquo described the haul of arms as alarming in a small state like Bayelsa. He complained of high level of unlawful possession of firearms. But he said efforts were ongoing to mop them up.
He said the police arrested 561 suspects in 2017, adding that 107 suspects were nabbed for unlawful possession of firearms. Among the suspects, he said 29 cases were under investigations, 30 were filed for legal advice at the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) and others were charged to court.
The police boss called for a special intervention to curb circulation of illegal firearms. He noted that 177 cases of armed robberies were reported to the police, leading to arrest of 241 suspects. He said out of the 177 cases, 56 were filed at the DPP while 20 cases were charged to the court.
The police boss further explained that the police received 33 cases of kidnapping, which led to the arrest of 87 suspects adding that 17 cases were under investigations while eight had been charged to court.
Asuquo, who called parents and guardians in the state to discharge their responsibilities to the children and wards, said rape cases soared with 73 cases. He said 122 rape suspects were apprehended while 37 were under investigations.
He lamented that 62 murder cases were reported within the period, which led to the arrest of 68 suspects adding that 27 of such cases had been charged to court.
He identified the major crimes in Bayelsa as cultism, rape, armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms describing the proliferation of illegal arms and light weapons in the state as dangerous.
He said: “The proliferation of small arms and light weapons have slowed down the pace of our fighting against criminal gangs, who engage in armed robbery.
“However, we have made significant progress in arresting armed robbers and recovery of arms. We have stemmed the tide of cultism in schools through ensitisagion programmes and campaigns.
“Breeding ground of cultism has been identified and teenagers were discouraged from hanging out in such locations. Parents and guardians have been advised to warn their children and wards from visiting such locations”.
Expectations of residents in 2018
The crime statistics released by the police commissioner for 2017 was receives by residents with mixed feelings. While residents appreciate the efforts of the police, they are scared that such number and amount of illegal arms and ammunition are in circulation especially in the state capital. They want the police to be be preoccupied with a programme aimed at mopping up illegal arms in the state. Asuquo should work with the state government to float a project of ensuring recovery of all arms in wrong hands. Perhaps, Governor Seriake Dickson could adopt the amnesty template of the Ondo State Government, which encouraged youths to turn in their arms and ammunition in exchange for state protection and empowerment. The police and other security agencies should work in synergy to block trade routes for illegal arms through intelligence gathering. Efforts must be made to stop new illegal weapons from entering the state.
Unresolved cases
Residents also expect the police to resolve some of the murder cases that occurred in 2017. Who killed Giobaro, Alhaji Abdulkarim and his four boys? Who murdered Masa and shot Patience? Residents expect answers from the police to send strong signal to would-be criminals that there is no hiding place.
