Police set to deploy16 gun boats,6,000 personnel ‎on Bayelsa waterways

No fewer than  16 gun boats and 6,000 armed Police personnel are expected to be deployed along the waterways and creeks of Bayelsa State to tackle sea piracy and criminality in the State.
The Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Asuquo Amba, who made this known when members of the State Chapter of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) led by the Chairman, Chief Alabo Nengi James, paid him a visit said the 6,000 personnel have been deployed and undergoing marine training .
Commissioner Amba said though the intelligence gathered by the police showed that the Delta and Rivers waterways have recorded relative calm due to a recognised chain of command that can be arrested and their activities stopped, “the suspected sea pirates in Bayelsa waters are criminals and will be dealt with.”
Amba said out of the 16 gun boats being deployed, ‎14 is expected to be repaired by the State Government and three donated by the Zonal Command of the Police, ” the Governor has directed that 14 gun boats be repaired for the operation and three donated by the Police high Command. And the 6,000 personel needed are being trained.”
‎On the issue of prison congestion and recent jail break at the Office of the State Anti-robbery squad(SARS), Police Commissioner Amba blamed the deplorable state of police detention and the slow judicial processes for the congestion and jail break.
Amba said though the proposal for the construction of a new and secured SARS jail and the ammnedment to improve the Judicial process have been submitted, “‎Most Police jails are not good in Bayelsa. And the process of the Bayelsa judiciary is not helping matters. It does not allow a prisoner to be brought to Court.”
“Out of all the States of the South South, Bayelsa court process is the slowest. All cases depend on DPP clearance and when the case is cleared, it does not move forward. I have met with the Chief judge on the matter. I have met with state Governor.When a police custody is over congested, the prisoners become agitated.”
‎Earlier in his presentation, the State Chairman of CLO,Chief Alabo Nengi James commended the Bayelsa Police Command over the recent successes recorded in the state,
Nengi James noted that ‎though few personel of the command are doing well,” some few have continually engaged in alleged extortion with demand for Bribe before granting bail.

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