Pirates turn waterways into battlefield

Security issues continue to plague Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

Pirates turn Southern Ijaw, Ogbia waterways to battlefield

By Samuel Oyadongha & Emem Idio

IGBOMOTORU—The waterways are the most dangerous place to be in Bayelsa State, which by its topography, has so many rivers, rivulets, creeks, tributaries and large swathe of mangrove swamps, making it more deltaic than Delta and Rivers state respectively.

Investigations by Niger Delta Voice showed that pirates and oil thieves in Southern Ijaw area have made the waterways of the state unsafe.

The Joint Task Force, JTF, Bayelsa State Police Command, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Bayelsa state and other security agencies have been locked in a battle with the armed gangs.

Southern Ijaw is most notorious

Public Relations Officer, NSCDC, Bayelsa, Dauzuo Izonfate, said: “Almost the whole of Southern Ijaw local government area, not only Azuzuama and Lobia, are notorious for criminal activities, especially bunkering, pipeline vandalism, sea piracy and illegal petroleum refineries.

“These criminal activities are common and widespread in these areas and have gradually become a part of life of the people and in some cases a means of livelihood.”

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Source: vanguardngr.com