From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
A group, Bayelsans for Accountability and Good Governance (BAGG) have written to the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun and other security agencies over the armed invasion of Igbomotoru community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa state by armed security personnel.
The group is therefore calling for a probe on the involvement of former minister of state, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva and Chief Joshua MacIver.
According to the group, despite the protests and allegations against Joshua Machiver for attempting to violently install a new paramount ruler in the community, preliminary investigations showed that the use of military gun boats and security personnel attached to the pipeline surveillance firm, Tantita Security Services Limited implicated the duo of Sylva and Machiver.
The BAGG, in a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesman, Comrade Pere Solomon, also alleged that the invasion of igbomotoru is linked to the outcome of the just concluded governorship election.
Solomon said the BAGG are solidly behind the position of the Traditional Ruler, Elders, Youth leadership and women of the Igbomotoru community, and across the state against the covert and armed attempt to subvert law and order in the community.
“We back the community in its claim that the armed invasion is to oppress them and to also install one someone who has been rejected as paramount ruler of the community.
“We also confirm that the community, which had been peaceful before and after the outcome of the election, is gradually being thrown into crisis which may result in bloodshed if those involved are not cautioned and arrested.
“The top echelon of the security agencies should order for an investigation into the allegations that some staff of Tantita Security Services in September 2023, while patrolling the rivers in gunboats, invaded Okpotuwari, a community in the area, where it allegedly caused mayhem and fear.
“Elections have come and gone, and we have a mandate to protect lives and property in Southern Ijaw LGA, and as such politicians plotting political vendetta should be reminded that nobody, no matter how highly placed, will be allowed to toy with the peace existing in the LGA. We call once again for the security agencies to act swiftly and diligently to protect lives and properties in Southern Ijaw,” he said.
Recalled that Maclver in his capacity as the coordinator,Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (Bayelsa Operations) in a statement denied the allegation against him and Tantita, insisting that the presence of the military was to safeguard federal assets and by extension lives and properties in the area and not to intimidate anyone.