The Bayelsa State Government and some leaders of most of the communities in the state say they are not in support of any militant group vandalising the nation’s oil pipelines.
They are also agreed to do their best to ensure that the militants pay for their crimes.
Nigeria is witnessing a downward slide of its economy, with a dropping GDP due to the dwindling export of crude oil occasioned by pipeline vandalism carried out by some suspected militants in the oil rich Niger Delta.
Bayelsa State is one of the oil producing states in Nigeria and it is also the epicentre of the Niger Delta and its struggle.
The State is also one of the hot beds for militancy, a situation that had triggered the meeting to put an end to misinformed agitation amongst youth from the state.
At the meeting were Governor Seriake Dickson, community leaders, heads of all security agencies and the representatives of the heads of the oil companies.
The Governor told the gathering that there was the need to tackle the ugly trend of militancy resurfacing in the region in recent weeks.
An agreement was also reached that all suspected militants in the communities would be handed over to security agencies.
The issue of kidnapping was also handled, as the Governor announced the criminalisation of any form of negotiation with militants who partake in hostage taking and kidnapping.
The gathering was like no other that had ever held in Bayelsa and its environs, as the elders and everyone present affirmed that the culprits were not strangers but people resident in their communities.
They all agreed to strengthen security and look inward in the fight against militancy which they believe would make Bayelsa State safe.