2000 Ijaw youths set to protest against Bayelsa Assembly over about 4,000 job loss.

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Tension is mounting in Bayelsa ahead of 2019, as 2,000 Ijaw youths are said to be set to hit the street in a protest against the Bayelsa state government, over what they describe as plans by the Governor, to render about 4,000 Ijaw Youths Jobless, in his bid to revoke the contract of a Bayelsan and award same to a Rivers man, according to a youth, John Okhai.

This is coming after the state government had sacked about 28,000 suspected ghost workers, while carrying out it's reform, which resulted to the death of about 9 Amassoma indigents, in a protest against the policy.

A group, the order of Egbesu Brotherhood, in a press release by it's secretary, Comr. Sage Godson, had earlier warned of an imminent resumption of hostility in the region, if the contract of Darlon Security and guard to protect pipelines belonging to Agip is revoked or tampered with. The group while chiding Ijaw politicians to avoid acts capable of inciting violence, advised NAOC to continue their dealings with it's client, Darlon Security, noting that they enjoy the support of youths and stakeholders of the region.

A lawmaker in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Retd Colonel Bernard Kenebai, in a resolution accused the security firm of oil theft, illegal bunkering and other sundry crimes.

Kenebai further stated that communities such as Ondewari, Korokoresi, amongst others in Soithern Ijaw have been under series of attack from operatives of the company's taskforce.

But the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) in the area, through it's chairman, Comr. Abule Titus buna, and secretary, Comr. Anki bestman, in a response, described his statements as untrue and false, passing a vote of confidence on the firm.

Darlon Security and guards is reportedly owned  by a philanthropist and Chieftain of the APC, from Southern Ijaw, LGA of the state, Hon. David Lyon, and runs a pipeline security contract with NAOC (Agip), which runs into millions of naira, and employing about 4,000 Bayelsans. He is rumored to have been anointed by the party as the gubernatorial candidate.

The groups, Southern Ijaw Progressive Union (SIPU) and Bayelsa Democratic Movement (BDM) have vowed to mobilize 2000 Bayelsa youths to stage a peaceful protest.

SIPU and BDM in a joint statement signed its Coordinators, Felix Inama, and Ndutimi Ayah respectively said the peaceful protest which is within the ambit of the law is to draw the attention of all sincere leaders of the Ijaw nation to moves to cripple the operations of a fellow Ijaw man and throw 4000 Ijaw youths currently being employed by the company into the labour market.

According to Inama, the resolution sponsored by Hon Bernard Kenebai in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly which seek to investigate operations of the company over allegations of criminal activities is a ruse as all the security agencies  including  Operation Delta Safe, Department of State Security, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps  can attest to the professional conduct of its employees and success of its operations which has led to the drastic reduction in crude oil theft.

The statement read in part ”Between 2012 and 2015 when Hon Kenebai was the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters was when Bayelsa state recorded the highest level of crude oil theft as he lacked the competence to handle the issue.

Darlon Security Services was engaged by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company to work with security agencies and it has been able to curb the menace of crude oil theft which has made some people uncomfortable.

Now because of the 2019 elections the PDP wants to cripple the company operations based on trump up charges. Bayelsa youths would not allow it.

Some Bayelsa youths have made contact with the Police hierarchy to get the necessary approval to stage a peaceful protest and tell all lovers of Ijaw nation on the building tension in Bayelsa state with the activities of PDP politicians”

Meanwhile Kenebai also added that there was nothing political about the resolution which he sponsored because the activities of the company are a threat to the people of Bayelsa state.