By Samuel Oyadongha

Yenagoa—Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, yesterday, advised pipeline vandals to leave the state or face dire consequences.

Speaking at Oporoma, headquarters of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area during his thank you tour to the area, Dickson said government was disturbed by the alarming rate of oil theft and its effects on the state and nation’s economy, stressing that stringent measures would be taken to stop it.

The governor, who was accompanied by the first civilian governor of the state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, the deputy governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah, (rtd), top government functionaries, captains of industry and a host of others, disclosed that necessary security apparatus was being put in place to curtail the act.

He said a crack taskforce would be set up to clamp down on the perpetrators of the criminal acts, warning that anybody caught in the act would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

While soliciting the support of people in the area in ensuring security of lives and property, the governor disclosed that his administration had invested a lot in security as it was the only way to attract local and foreign investors to the state.