From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

THE people of Ukubie in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have sent a petition to Governor Seriake Dickson over the upsurge of criminal activities which has worsened the insecurity in the area.
The community, which rose from an emergency meeting condemned the increasing wave of kidnapping and criminal activities in the area, called on the state government and security forces to immediately arrest the situation.
In a communiqué Daniel Sunday Oputu( 1), ASP Kenseimo (retd), DSP Fred Oputu Godwin and Inspector Uwougae, the community that the area has been communiqué signed by Chief Oputu( Agbalakoko Kenseimo Wilberforce Oputu (retd), Samu­Inspector Theophilus community lamented been taken over by criminals.
According to the communiqué, the leadership of the community is uncomfortable with the brazen im­punity displayed by criminals which has disrupted the peace of the com­munity and its environs.
The communiqué read in part: “The gang activities in the area are dangerous, unsafe and unaccept­able to the good citizens of Ukubie community. The state government should, as a matter of urgency, move into the area and dislodge this noto­rious criminal gang operating in the vicinity.
Consequently, we further state that if an immediate and timely step is not taken to arrest this criminal gang operating in the area, more havoc may be caused not only to the people of the area but the entire state as witnessed in the Odi saga”. The forum further resolved that the com­munity head should be investigated over the continued stay of the gang in the community. “Finally, and for the avoidance of doubt and clearly, we hereby state that the Ukubie community is unanimously in total support of the good initiatives and programmes of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, more especially as it concerns the security of lives and property in the rural areas,” it added.