GOVERNOR Seriake Dickson has condemned the killing of soldiers and naval personnel in Bayelsa communities.
This is even as the Presidency, through the Defence Headquarters, ordered security operatives to fish out killers of the military men.
Four naval personnel were killed in Nembe and three soldiers at a Joint Force Military checkpoint were also killed in Foropah by suspected militants.
Dickson in statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Daniel Iworiso-Markson appealed to those behind the killings to stop and save the state from a repeat of the Odi episode.
According to him, such unwarranted attacks on the nation’s security personnel were putting the state and the region in bad light.
Dickson, who personally expressed regrets over the unfortunate incident, said as part of steps to check activities of the youths, the unwholesome trend and improve the security situation in the state, community leaders, elders and other stakeholders would be summoned to a meeting to discuss security situation.
He, therefore, called on the perpetrators of the dastardly killings and their collaborators to stop with immediate effect.
“Terrorism does not favour peace, neither can democracy express itself through violence,” Dickson said.
He called on community leaders and other stakeholders to check the activities of youths in their domains, adding that the government is working in concert with the security agents to bring the culprits to book and forestall any future occurrences.
Meanwhile, the governor has raised the alarm over alleged plans of All Progressives Congress (APC) to intimidate members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the election petition tribunal in Abuja.
Speaking after the state congress in Yenagoa, Dickson lamented efforts to manipulate the judicial process by APC and declared that the judiciary is on trial.
Dickson, who expressed optimism over victory at the governorship election petition tribunal, said while the election was on merit, the integrity of the judiciary was on trial.
Consequently, he called on the Federal Government not to allow its institutions, particularly the security agencies to be used by APC chieftains in the state to witch-hunt and intimidate Bayelsans to forestall the breakdown of law and order.
He said: “Our victory is not on trial; it was clear and transparent like our congress on Tuesday. What is on trial, however, is the Nigerian judiciary, the integrity of the Nigerian state and the individual consciences of the judges, who are sitting and all the justices who will sit on this matter from the beginning to the end. This is because we have done our best; you voted and we have defeated them roundly and squarely.”
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