By Abisola THOMPSON
The Bayelsa Government has said that it will not allow the involvement of security men deployed to secure oil facilities in the electoral process.
The Bayelsa Security Council announced the decision after its meeting on Friday in Yenagoa.
The Council also prohibited the use of assets, personnel and security operatives on attachment to surveillance contractors engaged by oil firms and any other personnel for political activities in the state.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Kemela Okara, said the Council decided to restrict assets, personnel and security operatives to forestall security breaches.
He said that security men deployed to oil firms would not be permitted to operate outside oil and gas platforms which were their designated areas of operation.
Okara said the Council, comprising the heads of all security agencies and top officials of the state government, also prohibited the use of security operatives attached to VIPs and political appointees for election purposes.
He said the directive was in adherence to the stipulated guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He said the Council also resolved that the security agencies should not arrest, detain, or restrict the personal liberty of any leader or member of a political party without adherence to constitutional provisions.
However, Okara said the Council resolved that the agencies could arrest any leader of a political party found to be involved in acts inimical to national security and the governor notified immediately.
He said that the decision of the Council was to assure Bayelsa citizens of the commitment of the security agencies to be neutral, apolitical and professional in the forthcoming election.
The SSG said the Council called on the relevant agencies to stop the unjustifiable arrest and movement of alleged offenders to Abuja for offences allegedly committed within Bayelsa, especially in the build up to the elections.
According to him, the Council believes the agencies are equipped and competent to investigate cases without necessarily moving accused persons to detention facilities in Abuja.
He said that “any allegation of the commission of an offence or conspiracy to commit an offence, arising from a petition or suspicion should be noted and investigated discretely.
The Council also resolved that arrests, detention and prosecution arising from petitions should take place after the elections, Okara said.
He said the decision was to prevent deprivation of the rights of citizens and deepen confidence in the security institutions and the electoral process.—–NAN
