Bayelsa police clamp down on cultists

 From: Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

 The Bayelsa State Police Command has clamped down on suspected cultists in Yenagoa, the state capital, and its environs.

Recently, while presenting patrol vehicles to the Bayelsa State security outfit, Operation DOO AKPO, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson had directed the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Asuquo Amba, and the Bayelsa State Police command to clamp down on suspected cultists and other criminal elements to demonstrate his administration zero tolerance for crime and criminality.

According to investigations the police working on a tip off stormed Azikoro area, suburb of Yenagoa and arrested several cultists that have been terrorising the area.

 A reliable source confirmed that the suspected cultists arrested have made very useful confessional statements to the Police including murder cases they have been involved in.

 The source also said that in line with the instructions of Amba, the Police patrol team of Operation DOO AKPO have stepped up surveillance in Yenagoa and its environs with routine ‘Show of Force’ to send out warning signals that Bayelsa is not a comfort zone for criminals.

 He also said that the stop and search operation ordered by Amba has led to the arrest of suspected armed robbers and recovery of arms and ammunition.

“Yes there has been a clamp down on suspected cultists especially in Azikoro area where cultists have been terrorising the people. Several of them have been have arrested and they have made very useful statements to the Police.  They have confessed to all the crimes in the area including murder. Also suspects have been arrested and arms recovered during the stop and search exercise ordered by the Commissioner of Police. The suspects in Police net and others that would soon be arrested would be paraded very soon at the Police headquarters to tell Bayelsans that the Police would not abdicate its responsibility to protect lives and property in the state. Once ongoing investigations are completed, all the suspects would be paraded for the whole world to see the success being recorded by the Bayelsa state Police command.”