Forum Blames Increased Crime On Arms Proliferation

Navy Commordore Abimbola Ayuba, the acting Chairman, Bayelsa Security Stakeholders Interactive Forum, on Tuesday in Yenagoa, attributed the upsurge in crime in the state to the proliferation of small arms.

Ayuba stated this at a news briefing on the forthcoming Inter-Agency security week in Bayelsa billed to kick-off on Wednesday in Yenagoa.

The one week event is expected to provide the needed opportunity for various security personnel to express their views, grievances and share information as well as build confidence amongst them.

Activities lined up for the week included lectures, football competition among the security agencies, solidarity walk and others.

Ayuba said the essence was to build a robust civil-military interaction while still consolidating on the inter-agency relationship.

He said the recent clamp down on oil thieves in the creeks and rivers might have resulted in the increase in sea piracy and other related crimes.

Ayuba said that with the clamp down “you know you have closed the windows of some individuals’ money spinning avenues.

The acting chairman said the security stakeholders’ forum was inaugurated in the state in July, 2011.

He said it was established to check the growing misunderstanding among security agencies in Bayelsa.

The defunct security outfit code named ‘Operation Famou Tangbei’ set up by the former administration in the state resulted in several clashes between the military and the outfit.

This compelled the setting up of the security stakeholders’ forum in order to address the growing incident of clashes among the security agencies in the state then.

Some of the security agencies taking part in the exercise include the Army, Navy, Air force; Police NDLEA, NSCDC, FRSC and the SSS.