The traditional leadership and elders of the Bilabiri community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have called on the state government and security agencies to urgently intervene following escalating security threats and armed intimidation along the Dodo River waterways.
In a joint statement signed by High Chief Friday Gelu, High Chief Esau Olumofa, Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman Chief Tekenane Abaka, and CDC Secretary Ebike Adam, the community raised the alarm over the activities of heavily armed individuals terrorising local fishermen and riverine families.
According to the community leadership, twin brothers from the neighbouring Amatu 2 community, identified as Mr. Man Job and Mr. First-Boy Job, have been spotted repeatedly navigating the waterways with high-caliber firearms. The statement noted that their heavily armed presence has crippled local economic activities, instilling fear in women, traders, and fishermen who rely on the river for their livelihoods.
๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐
The Bilabiri leadership further alleged that the armed operations are being funded and logistically backed by Mr. Victor Isereke and Mr. Roland Isereke, operating from the Tantita Security Services office. The elders claim this tactical support is a deliberate attempt to use private force to oppress and intimidate Bilabiri residents.
The statement also slammed the actors for allegedly exploiting the name and reputation of prominent Niger Delta leader Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo. The community clarified that the rogue operations are a calculated attempt to tarnish Tompoloโs image by falsely associating Tantitaโs official movements with criminal activities.
๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฏ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ
Addressing underlying tensions, the Bilabiri leaders disputed any claims justifying pipeline surveillance contracts for the Amatu community.
โContrary to claims circulated in some quarters, the Amatu community has no oil pipeline traversing its territory and therefore does not meet the criteria for any surveillance contract in this area,โ the statement read. โSurveillance and security contracts must be awarded transparently and only to communities hosting pipeline infrastructure. Awarding contracts where no pipelines exist is a recipe for abuse and a threat to peace.โ
๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
While emphasizing their commitment to peace and harmonious coexistence with their neighbours, the Bilabiri community and the entire kingdom insisted they would not succumb to lawlessness or intimidation. They demanded the following immediate actions:
- ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ฏ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: An immediate probe by the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, alongside relevant federal security agencies, into the armed patrols, the roles of Mr. Victor Isereke and Mr. Roland Isereke, and the alleged involvement of the Tantita Security Services office.
- ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ: A total halt to all Tantita Security Services activities within Bilabiri territorial land and waters until a transparent inquiry is concluded.
- ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก-๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: A call on influential regional actors, including Tompolo, to intervene directly and ensure that the sponsors of the intimidation desist immediately.
- ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐-๐๐๐๐ค๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: The deployment of lawful security agencies to patrol the Dodo River, guarantee safe navigation, and protect the livelihoods of riverine communities.
The leadership urged the media, civil society organisations, and the public to monitor the situation closely to prevent a breakdown of law and order, warning that continued inaction could inflame communal tensions and disrupt regional peace.