Bayelsa Bars Oil Firms’ Security Operatives From Electoral Duties

The Bayelsa State Government has said that it will not allow  the involvement  of security men deployed to secure oil facilities in the electoral  process.
The Bayelsa Security Council announced the decision after its meeting at the weekend in Yenagoa.
The Council also prohibited the use of assets, personnel and security operatives on attachment to surveillance contractors engaged by oil firms and any other personnel for political activities in the state.
The Secretary to the State Government  (SSG), Mr Kemela Okara, said the Council decided to restrict assets, personnel and security operatives to forestall security breaches.
He said that security men deployed to oil firms would not be permitted to operate outside oil and gas platforms which were their designated areas of operation.
Okara said the Council, comprising the heads of all security agencies and top officials of the state government, also prohibited the use of security operatives attached to VIPs and political appointees for election purposes.
He said the directive was in adherence to the stipulated guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He said the Council also resolved that the security agencies should not arrest, detain, or restrict the personal liberty of any leader or member of a political party without adherence to constitutional provisions.
However, Okara said  the Council resolved that the agencies could arrest any leader of a political party found to be involved in acts inimical to national security and the governor notified immediately.
He said that the decision of the Council was to assure  Bayelsa citizens of the commitment of the security agencies to be neutral, apolitical and professional in the forthcoming election.