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From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
There was a massive peaceful protest on Tuesday in Opu- Nembe, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State in solidarity with the Federal Government and the Inspector- General of Police( IGP), Mr Kayode Egbetokun over the deployment of troops to the community in the wake of crisis that gripped it following the tussle for the economic control of the community.
The IGP had on Saturday August 12 deployed a detachment of Mobile Policemen (PMF) and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), operatives to the area to quell the reign of terror in the community.
On Tuesday many of the people sent on exile from the community reunited with their kith and kin amidst singing and dancing while calling on the Federal Government and the IGP to sustain the peace in the community.
Armed with placards with inscriptions such as “Opu- Nembe is liberated”, “ No more destruction of houses, the people of Opu- Nembe can now sleep peacefully”, “ No more stealing and raping”, “ Governor Douye Diri leave Opu- Nembe alone”, “ The people of Oluasiri are delighted that that Opu- Nembe is liberated”, “ FG and IGP thank you for restoring peace to Opu- Nembe, we are grateful”, “ We want the Police to remain in Opu- Nembe”, the people called on the IGP to ensure the Police are not withdrawn so as to sustain the peace in the community.
Speaking in an interview Mrs Cecilia Julius who said her husband was killed by a faction of the youth group in the community said the peace that has returned to the community should be sustained.
“The community needs to be safe. The Police should not leave this community because If they leave we are all dead”
Also speaking Madam Pogomatie Otuma commended the Federal Government and the IGP for deploying Police operatives to the community which she admitted has returned peace to the community.
“I thank the Federal Government and the IGP for deploying Police operatives to the community which has brought about peace. We are now safe and we want the Police to remain so that there won’t be any crisis again forcing us to run helter skelter”.
Mrs Hannah Gift in an interview said she has been out for the community for over one year and said she was happy to be back since peace has returned to the community. She however urged the Bayelsa State government to cooperate with the Police to remain in the community to keep the peace.
“I want to thank the IGP for bringing peace to the community. For the past few years we have been suffering in silence due to the reign of terror in the community until the IGP deployed operatives. Please we don’t want the Police to go. They should stay for us. We don’t want Governor Douye Diri to castigate the Police; the Police are here to bring peace.”
Mr Simeon Peter speaking on behalf of the elders also commended the IGP for its timely intervention which has saved the community.
