By Kingsley Omonobi, & Samuel Oyandogha, with agency report
Yenagoa— Over 15,000 police personnel are to provide security in Bayelsa State as the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, defies a court injuction and goes ahead with today’s governorship primaries in the state.

Apart from the police personnel, the Nigerian Army, the Air Force and the State Security Services, SSS, will also provide additional security even as the Joint Task Force, JTF, ‘’Operation Restore Hope,’’ have been placed on stand-by as President Goodluck Jonathan, who is a from the state and a delegate in the primaries is expected to participate in the programme.

Saturday Vanguard learnt that as a result of the tension in the state, occasioned by the party’s handling of the primaries, there were fears that an unspecified number of armed thugs suspected to be militants have been assembled to cause confusion during the primaries.

As a result of this, the police said they were not leaving any stone unturned to ensure security of lives and propperty.

It has furthermore, deployed the anti-Bomb Disposal Units, sniffer dogs to deter trouble markers during or after the exercise.

The PDP which had already screened out the state Governor, Mr Timipre Silva out of the race, after he expressed his readiness to seek a second term in office on the platform of his party through he became governor.

The Bayelsa State Police Commissioner, Hillary Opara, confirmed in Yenegoa that security has been intensified in the state, adding that he had received reinforcement of personnel and arsenals from eight states in readiness for the primaries.

Opara said that 17 Police Mobile Force, PMP, units, additional four Armoured Personnel Carriers, APCs, four lorries and other patrol vehicles were received on Monday night to beef up security in the state.

Silva has however, expressed deep concern over the massive deployment of police and other security personnel in Yenegoa over the primaries.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Doifie Ola, Sylva described the massive deployment of troops as uncalled for, adding that it was capable of endangering the people’s fundamental human rights.

”As governor and chief security officer of the state, Chief Sylva considers the troop deployment as uncalled for and capable of endangering the people’s fundamental human rights.

”Governor Sylva calls on the people of the state to refuse to be intimidated or provoked into any form of violence over the needless troop deployment. He urges all residents of the state to remain calm and go about their normal businesses, trusting in the ability of our democratic institutions to address the existing political anxiety in Bayelsa State.

‘’The Governor says our democratic institutions have demonstrated the ability to resolve issues arising from the contest for power at all levels. Governor Sylva thanks the people of the state for their continued support, maturity and patriotism. He advises all parties in the political contest to bear in mind that what is most important now is the interest of Bayelsa State, not the ambition of any individual of group of individuals,” Silva stated.

He then urged residents of the state to remain calm and go about their normal businesses, trusting in the abililty our the democratic institutions to address the existing political anxiety in the state.

However, the state Police Commissioner Opara said, “We are going to use them (security) to make sure that Bayelsa State is secure for law abiding citizens to go about their businesses unmolested.

”The good people of Bayelsa State should be happy to see an increase in the security of the area.”

The commissioner said the command was also taking proactive measures to ensure that nothing compromised the integrity of the peace that was already in place in the state.

“True to the saying that police are your friends, so when you see the police it means the state is secured.

”Apart from that , we have had elections. Just yesterday, the PDP held their ward congresses and they finished it and left. It was peaceful and successful as there was no problem,” he said.

The commissioner noted that “all this increase in arsenal and personnel is a measure to keep the place in order, peaceful, crime-free for the exercise to go on peacefully.”

Opara who commended the political class for their exhibition of maturity during the ward congresses said “we don’t have any problem with the politicians for now.

”I need to commend them because they have conducted themselves very peacefully so

far. The ward congress election last Monday was peaceful as there was nothing from

any angle to disrupt the activities.”

The Police Force Public Relations Officer, Deputy Commissioner, Olusola Amore confirmed the massive police deployment in Bayelsa saying, ‘’ All I can tell you at this moment is that we are ready. Our men have been mobilised to ensure a hitch free primaries but I cannot give you any further details than that.’’

So far, several truck loads of soldiers and policemen were seen moving into Yenegoa even as armed soldiers and other securitymen who were stationed at a distance of every 200 metres on the major streets were busy conducting ‘’stop and search’’ on vehicles irrespective of their owners, thereby causing serious traffic gridlock and discomfort to passers-by.

APCs were also stationed at strategic locations across the length and breadth of the state.

Meanwhile, more check points have been set up at strategic locations in Yenegoa and its environ to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

The state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Ene Ketebu also told NAN that preparations for the primaries were in top gear.