Opu Nembe Crisis: Bayelsa Assembly Chides IGP
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Members of the the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, on Monday, challenged the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, to obey a subsisting court order and withdraw policemen from the ancient Nembe-Bassambiri town. The town now goes by the name Opu-Nembe.
A combined team of policemen and soldiers stormed the town on Saturday night in an action that has now been condemned by women of the town who even took to the streets on Monday to protest the continued invasion of their town.
The women had also accused the candidate of one of the political parties for the November 11 gubernatorial election, saying he wanted to impose himself on the people.
Just as the women were protesting, the lawmakers were also deliberating on the matter on the floor of the House. Speaking during deliberations on a motion sponsored by the lawmaker representing Nembe Constituency 1, Oteigbanyo George-Braah, the Speaker, Abraham Ingobere, urged the Inspector-General of Police to obey a subsisting court order by withdrawing the policemen deployed in Opu-Nembe.
The House also urged the Inspector-General of Police, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police and other relevant security agents to carry out a comprehensive investigation and promptly arrest the perpetrators.
The House called on the Bayelsa State Government to immediately set up a judicial commission of inquiry while urging the Federal Government and the state government to take appropriate measures to forestall further attacks on the community.
The lawmakers further called on the Bayelsa Caucus in the National Assembly to raise the Opu-Nembe issue on the floor of both chambers.
Sponsor of the motion, George-Braah, described the situation in the community as dire and deserving of urgent attention.
In separate remarks, the Deputy Speaker, Michael Ogbere, Leader of the House, Monday Bubou, the Chief Whip, Gabriel Ogbara, Bernard Kenebai and other legislators expressed sadness over the invasion by the police, which they unanimously said was politically motivated.
