The Bayelsa State government has vowed to deal with people stockpiling arms with intention of causing violence in the forthcoming general elections in the state.
The government made the pledge at the State Executive Council meeting yesterday in Yenagoa.
The government said it would use the instrumentality of the law to punish anyone or group found to be disrupting the existing peace in the state during and after the forthcoming general elections.
The council at its 104th meeting said it also deliberated extensively on a report before it that some politicians in the state were stockpiling arms for the purpose of causing mayhem.
Addressing newsman, the new Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Arthur Seweniowor, said the government would not fold its arms and watch unscrupulous politicians turn the state into a killing field.
He stated that as a responsible government it would not allow what happened during the 2015 and 2016 governorship elections to repeat itself.
The state’s attorney general and commissioner for justice also stressed that Bayelsa government had a constitutional mandate to protect lives and property.
Seweniowor, who maintained that elections were not war but a healthy contest to pick leaders, called on youths not to allow themselves to be used by selfish politicians to commit atrocities.
“The violence that characterised the 2015 governorship election in the state was still fresh in our minds.
“If you recall, the government did set up a panel of inquiry to investigate the crisis that engulfed parts of the state in course of the election.
“A white paper was later produced after the panel submitted its report. It is sad to note that those indicted in that report are still the same persons who are stockpiling arms today.