Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Chief Timipre Sylva
By Segun James
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Hafiz Ringim has ordered that the dreaded Bayelsa State Security outfit known as Famou Tamgbei be immediate disbanded following public outcry and protest of extra judicial killings and misuse of power against the outfit.
The men of the outfit were also accused of gross violation of police procedures and disrespect to other security forces in the state including the Joint Military Task Force code named Operation Restore Hope and the Nigeria Air Force.
The State Police Commissioner, Musa Aliu, who carried out the order, has however said that the security outfit was not disbanded; instead, it was an order for a stop in its activities, "as part of an on-going restructuring in the State Police Command."
It would be recalled that the security outfit was established on the 3rd of September 2010, by the state police command to checkmate the rising crime rate in the state.
But soon, the security outfit started having problems with the community and the first commander of the outfit was removed.
Among the high profile crimes allegedly committed by the outfit include the killing of 25 years old boy, Tochukwu Uzukwu as they ordered him at gunpoint to jump into a river. They also allegedly tortured and killed a staff of an hotel in the full glare of onlookers.
The problem however got to a head when the men attached to the command started engaging other security personnel in scuffles.
Reacting to the order to disband the outfit, the State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Tare Akono, commended those "that fought for the end to the reign of terror by the security group."
The State Secretary of the Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO), Comrade Alagoa Morris called for a detailed investigation into the cases of killings and harassment by the security outfit in the state.