Ex-Militants’ meeting in Bayelsa stopped as Soldiers seal off venue

A combined team of soldiers and policemen have been drafted to the Ijaw house venue of a proposed meeting by Niger Delta ex-militants.

Sources told Premium Times that the security operatives were deployed on the orders of Governor Seriake Dickson on Friday. Civil servants in Bayelsa Ministry if Culture and Ijaw National Affairs and other government agencies with offices in the same building were denied access to their offices on Friday.
 
The Bayelsa government had announced the cancellation of the meeting convened by ex-militants leaders in Bayelsa in a statement on Friday. The Bayelsa Governor, Mr. Dickson, in a statement by his chief press secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, stated that the governor has offered to meet with the former militants leaders at a later date.
 “Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson has called for the postponement of the proposed meeting of the leaders of ex-agitators in the Niger Delta, earlier scheduled for this Saturday, 25th of July, 2015 in Yenagoa by them,” Mr. Iworiso-Markson said. 
 
The statement added that the governor will meet with them soon, to discuss issues as it affects the ex-agitators and others issues of overall strategic interest of the region and the nation as a whole.
 Mr. Iworiso-Markson called for the understanding and cooperation of all concerned.