Niger Delta Avengers: Bayelsa governor cautions JTF

– Bayelsa state governor, Seriake Dickson is known for his bluntness when speaking on national issues
– Governor Dickson recently cautioned the federal government security outfit in the Niger Delta
– The governor made the call while receiving the new commander of the Joint Military Task Force in the Niger Delta
Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa state has advised the new commander of the federal government security outfit in the Niger Delta, Rear Admiral Joseph Okojie, to be neutral in all the affairs of his team.

Governor Seriake Dickson

Rear Admiral Okojie is the new leader of the security outfit code named, “Operation Delta Safe”  set up by the federal government to address the security challenges in the region.
In a statement issued by the governor’s spokesman, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, Dickson also commend the federal government for retaining the headquarters of the “Operation Delta Safe” in Bayelsa.
He reiterated that the operations of the security outfit, especially its maritime component, has a crucial role to play, given that Bayelsa state is predominantly riverine in nature.
The governor expressed confidence in the ability of the officers and men of “Operation Delta Safe”, even as he called for non-interference in their activities in the interest of national peace and stability.
He assured Rear Admiral Okojie that his government would continue to support security agencies in the fight against criminality and brigandage in the state and beyond.
Dickson frowned at vices such as kidnapping, piracy and the wilful destruction of the nation’s strategic assets, coupled with the attendant degradation of the environment such attacks cause.
The governor also paid tribute to all the commanders of the now rested Operation Pulo shield for their contributions to the peace in the Niger Delta region.
Earlier in his remarks, Rear Admiral Okojie told the governor that the federal government deemed it important to re-engineer the security outfit in the region as part of efforts to effectively the security situation in the area.
According to Rear Admiral Okojie, the task of achieving enduring peace and stability, remains a joint effort involving the governments, community leaders and other stakeholders.
He assured Governor Dickson that his team would adopt a holistic approach in maintaining law and order rather than use brute force.
Okojie however warned criminal minded individuals to steer clear of the region, adding that they would deal decisively with those who are bent on sabotaging the federal government’s efforts towards promoting economic growth and prosperity.
Earlier this week, Governor Dickson advised the federal government not to engage in combative means as a way of ending the threats posed by the Niger Delta Avengers.