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Following persistent and worrisome attacks by dare devil sea pirates along the Bonny Port Harcourt sea route and the consequent effect on indigenes and visitors to the island, the Amanyanabo of Ancient Grand Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Edwatd Asimini William Dappa Pepple, titled citizens, political elites and the entire people of Bonny rose up to condemn the dastardly act through a communiqué raised, pointing out the consequences of continued attacks on the sea and calling on state and federal government to expedite action and come to the rescue of the once tranquil and peaceful enclave. All security operatives, multinational oil and gas companies among others were fully represented. Below is excerpts of the communique raised:
COMMUNIQUE OF THE MEETING ON SECURITY CONCERNS IN BONNY AND ENVIRONS HELD AT THE KING PEREKULE PALACE IN BONNY
1) Bothered by the rampant acts of sea robbery on the Bonny-Port Harcourt sea route;concerned about the safety of Bonny and their guests,and desirous of finding concrete and lasting solution to the menace caused by see robbery cum piracy and other criminal activities,His Majesty King Edward
Asimini William Dappa Pepple III,JP,CON,Perekule XI,Neutral Ruler and Amanyanabo of Bonny convened a Meeting on Security Concerns on 03 September 2016.The meeting was attended by representatives of all security agencies,and other security experts,Federal maritime agencies and the International Oil Companies(IOCs) operating in Bonny.
2) At the end of exhaustive discussions and analysis,the meeting resolved that…
a) Appreciation should be shown to His Majesty’s leadership and genuine concern in convening the meeting to find solutions to make the Kingdom and environs more secured;
b) Chiefs and elders in the Kingdom must work hard to re-orientate the youths towards our cultural values systems,so that they would not be lured into criminal activities;
c) All stakeholders must make concerted efforts to make job opportunities available to our youths;
d) The boat owners/operators in Bonny must take responsibility of ensuring that their boats movement are scheduled and that the boats in large convoys
e) The boat owners and operators must take responsibility of ensuring that no boat that is not in perfect mechanical condition is set to sea,and that every boat must have a walkie-talkie with which to communicate with their administration on land and the security agencies;
f) The JTF,Navy,Civil Defence,DSS and Police should organise themselves to provide ascort for these convoys of boats in both directions;
g) The security agencies,and indeed the general public,should intensify information gathering that the security agencies can concert to intelligence to use in the prevention of criminal activities in Bonny and enverons;
h) The Federal and State Government should provide adequate logistics support to the security agencies.It is hoped that all tiers of government will do all that is necessary in this regard;
i) The Federal Government,the State Government,the Local Government and the multinational companies operating in Bonny should in a matter of necessity procure at least four gunboats with adequate logistics support for the Bonny-Port Harcourt route;
j) The IOCs in Bonny agreed to support the Kingdom in enhancing sustained security both on land and water;
k) The Bonny-Bodo Road project is of neccessity to the Bonny Kingdom,and the Federal Government should make haste to complete the Bonny-Bodo Road for which the Nigeria NLNG has committed fifty percent(50%) of the funding;
l) Should the Federal Government continue to delay,the Rivers State Government should show enough concern for the plight of Bonny people and provide the fund to match that of the NLNG so that this vital road would be completed in 2017;
m) His Majesty,the Amanyanabo directs that an action committee of security experts and agencies be constituted to draw up concrete action plans to achieve our objective of a better secured Bonny Kingdom and environs.
To this end,the following is to be effected immediately;
I. Recertification of all passenger boats plying the Bonny-Port Harcourt route.
ii) Database must be established for boat operators and owners,which include all drivers of such passenger boats plying the Bonny-Port Harcourt route.
iii) All boat operators must abide by the sea route approved by the security agencies.
n) The Local and State Government should provide ferry boats to ply the Bonny-Port Harcourt waterways for enhanced security.
In agreement hereof,the following persons append their signature to this communique this third day of September 2016.
SIGNED
(1) Bonny Local Government Council.
(2) Security Agencies.
(3) Youth Representatives.
(4) Shell Petroleum Development Company.
(5) Mobil Producing Nigeria Limited.
(6) Nigeria LNG Limited.
(7) Hon.Amaopuorubo Toru Ofili.
(8) Amasenibo Emma Ibama.
(9) Chairman Bonny Chiefs’ Councils.
Asimini William Dappa Pepple III,JP,CON,Perekule XI,Neutral Ruler and Amanyanabo of Bonny convened a Meeting on Security Concerns on 03 September 2016.The meeting was attended by representatives of all security agencies,and other security experts,Federal maritime agencies and the International Oil Companies(IOCs) operating in Bonny.
2) At the end of exhaustive discussions and analysis,the meeting resolved that…
a) Appreciation should be shown to His Majesty’s leadership and genuine concern in convening the meeting to find solutions to make the Kingdom and environs more secured;
b) Chiefs and elders in the Kingdom must work hard to re-orientate the youths towards our cultural values systems,so that they would not be lured into criminal activities;
c) All stakeholders must make concerted efforts to make job opportunities available to our youths;
d) The boat owners/operators in Bonny must take responsibility of ensuring that their boats movement are scheduled and that the boats in large convoys
e) The boat owners and operators must take responsibility of ensuring that no boat that is not in perfect mechanical condition is set to sea,and that every boat must have a walkie-talkie with which to communicate with their administration on land and the security agencies;
f) The JTF,Navy,Civil Defence,DSS and Police should organise themselves to provide ascort for these convoys of boats in both directions;
g) The security agencies,and indeed the general public,should intensify information gathering that the security agencies can concert to intelligence to use in the prevention of criminal activities in Bonny and enverons;
h) The Federal and State Government should provide adequate logistics support to the security agencies.It is hoped that all tiers of government will do all that is necessary in this regard;
i) The Federal Government,the State Government,the Local Government and the multinational companies operating in Bonny should in a matter of necessity procure at least four gunboats with adequate logistics support for the Bonny-Port Harcourt route;
j) The IOCs in Bonny agreed to support the Kingdom in enhancing sustained security both on land and water;
k) The Bonny-Bodo Road project is of neccessity to the Bonny Kingdom,and the Federal Government should make haste to complete the Bonny-Bodo Road for which the Nigeria NLNG has committed fifty percent(50%) of the funding;
l) Should the Federal Government continue to delay,the Rivers State Government should show enough concern for the plight of Bonny people and provide the fund to match that of the NLNG so that this vital road would be completed in 2017;
m) His Majesty,the Amanyanabo directs that an action committee of security experts and agencies be constituted to draw up concrete action plans to achieve our objective of a better secured Bonny Kingdom and environs.
To this end,the following is to be effected immediately;
I. Recertification of all passenger boats plying the Bonny-Port Harcourt route.
ii) Database must be established for boat operators and owners,which include all drivers of such passenger boats plying the Bonny-Port Harcourt route.
iii) All boat operators must abide by the sea route approved by the security agencies.
n) The Local and State Government should provide ferry boats to ply the Bonny-Port Harcourt waterways for enhanced security.
In agreement hereof,the following persons append their signature to this communique this third day of September 2016.
SIGNED
(1) Bonny Local Government Council.
(2) Security Agencies.
(3) Youth Representatives.
(4) Shell Petroleum Development Company.
(5) Mobil Producing Nigeria Limited.
(6) Nigeria LNG Limited.
(7) Hon.Amaopuorubo Toru Ofili.
(8) Amasenibo Emma Ibama.
(9) Chairman Bonny Chiefs’ Councils.
ENDORSED BY
HIS MAJESTY KING EDWARD ASIMINI WILLIAM DAPPA PEPPLE III,JP,CON,PEREKULE XI,NATURAL RULER AND AMANYANABO OF ANCIENT GRAND BONNY
HIS MAJESTY KING EDWARD ASIMINI WILLIAM DAPPA PEPPLE III,JP,CON,PEREKULE XI,NATURAL RULER AND AMANYANABO OF ANCIENT GRAND BONNY