YENOGOA, Nigeria – Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has enforced a dusk-to-dawn curfew and dissolved all youth and chieftaincy councils in the community.
These drastic measures came after a closed-door meeting with the state’s Security Council.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, August 25, 2023, before the meeting, Governor Diri emphasized his administration’s efforts in maintaining peace in Bayelsa State since he took office over three years ago.
“We’ve worked tirelessly to ensure a harmonious atmosphere in our state. The current situation in Opu-Nembe is unfortunate and calls for immediate action,” said Diri.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Akpoebi Agberebi, briefed reporters on the meeting’s outcomes, noting that the situation demanded urgent measures to prevent further escalation.
In a surprising move, the Security Council called Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to withdraw the Special Weapons and Tactics, SWAT, team currently deployed in Opu-Nembe.
The Council expressed preference for joint security agents in the state to handle the situation.
“We believe that the local and state security forces are more than capable of resolving the situation and restoring peace. The presence of the SWAT team, in this case, could lead to unintended complications,” Agberebi explained.
The Security Council’s recommendation for the removal of SWAT forces reflects a growing debate on the appropriate scale and nature of police intervention in localized crises.
As the governor and local security apparatus work to restore order in Opu-Nembe, the larger conversation on security strategy and community governance in Bayelsa—and indeed the rest of Nigeria—continues to unfold.
The specifics of the crisis in Opu-Nembe remain unclear, but the severity of the state’s response indicates significant challenges in maintaining law and order in the community.
With the imposition of the curfew and dissolution of local councils, Governor Diri has made it clear that his administration is willing to take stern measures to quell unrest.
The next steps will be crucial in determining whether peace can be restored swiftly and how the community will be governed moving forward.
