Bayelsa Governor Warns Against Another ‘Odi’
Seriake Dickson – Bayelsa State Governor[/caption]
Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa state has warned against the invasion of riverine communities by Nigeria’s military reminiscent of the Odi massacre under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, while condemning those allegedly behind the killings of security personnel.
The governor who expressed his hope against such a repeat of the massacre, challenged community leaders to check the activities of their youths.
Dickson in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said: “The Bayelsa State governor, Hon. Henry has condemned in very strong terms, the recent unprovoked attack and killing of four security personnel in Nembe Creek and three Naval personnel in Foropa community in Nembe and Southern Ijaw local government areas of the state and other parts of the Niger Delta region.
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“Such unwarranted attacks on the nation’s security personnel were putting the state and the region in bad light, and also putting the innocent ones in the state and the Niger Delta region in danger.
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“As part of the steps to check the activities of the youths, the unwholesome trend and improve the security situation in the state, he said community leaders, elders and other stakeholders would be summoned to a meeting at a date to be announced later.”
The statement added that Dickson said his administration was working in concert with the security agents to bring the culprits to book and forestall any future occurrences.
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The Odi attack was carried out on November 20, 1999, following the killing of 12 policemen in the Bayelsa town.
Odi was razed to the ground by the military in “Operation Hakuri”, leading to the deaths of hundreds of people, including women and children.
