By David Owei,Bayelsa

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has empathised with victims of a fire incident that occurred on Friday in the state capital, Yenagoa.

Governor Diri who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Peter Akpe, undertook an inspection visit to the scene of the fire outbreak to ascertain the level of destruction caused by the incident at Baybridge, Kpansia.

The Governor, who led a high-profile delegation of officials of relevant government agencies including the Comptroller of Federal Fire Service, Mr. Diton Amos and the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, CP Daniel Iyamah, spoke to newsmen after taking an on-the- spot assessment of the affected structures.

Describing the incident as unfortunate, he however, expressed gratitude to God that no life was lost.

Governor Diri commended the fire service, the police and neighbours who responded to the incident, stressing that but for their swift intervention, the situation could have been worse.

The Governor assured that all relevant agencies would take the necessary steps to unravel the cause of the inferno to decipher whether it was an electrical fault or man-made.

The Bayelsa governor however added that all electrical sources to the affected would remain shut down during the period of the investigation.

His words: “We are here on behalf of His Excellency, the Governor to show concern over what has happened. This is an emergency. However, we give glory to God that no life was lost and that the level of damage did not get beyond what we are seeing.

“Let me commend the efforts of the fire service agency and other relevant agencies and even the neighbours for their swift intervention, if not it would have been worse.

“We will take the necessary action to follow up. The Police, SDS, Comptroller of Fire Services will undertake an investigation to ascertain whether the incident was man-made or it was an electrical fault. Meanwhile, electrical sources to this environment will be shut down for now.”

In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police, CP Daniel Iyamah, explained that as soon as the Command was contacted, he deployed his officers to secure the area, stating that “investigation was ongoing in order to come up with the exact cause of the fire outbreak.”

Director-General, Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency, (BYSEMA), Hon. Walamam Igrubia, expressed sadness over the sudden incident and assured that his agency would take steps to alleviate the plight of the affected persons.

Hon. Igrubia said: l have deployed my officials to get a list of the victims affected and get information about what has been destroyed. We thank God that no life was lost because that is the most important thing. Whatever that is lost here, we hope that it would be recovered.”

In their separate accounts, a victim of the fire outbreak, Douye Josephine Yallah, who sustained injuries from the fire, said the incident happened at about 9 ‘O clock in the morning and that property worth millions of naira were destroyed.

Also another victim, Miss Blessing Sobotie, and an eyewitness, Pastor Ezekiel Oteigbanyon, narrated that they heard a loud sound and saw smoke billowing from the rooftop and raised an alarm to call the attention of the neighbourhood to the incident.

Miss Sobotie, who described the destruction as massive and devastating, called on the government and other charitable organisations for assistance.

The Deputy Governor, Dr. Peter Akpe was accompanied on the visit by his wife, Dr. Favour Akpe, Commissioner for Health, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe, his Lands and Survey counterpart, Mr Perepuighe Biewari, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Fred Kemedei and the Permanent Secretary of Women Affairs, Mrs Agnes Oloye, among others.

By David Owei, Bayelsa

The Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF) has called on the governors of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta states to urgently revive and adequately fund the BRACED Commission as part of a coordinated regional strategy to tackle the growing wave of insecurity across the country.

The forum said recent developments indicate that kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes are no longer restricted to their traditional hotspots, warning that the South-South region must not wait until criminal elements become deeply entrenched before taking proactive measures.

In a statement signed by its Secretary, Mr. Tare Magbei, the IPF noted that recent reports have shown a disturbing spread of kidnapping-for-ransom activities to the southern parts of the country, including incidents involving school abductions in Oyo State, while ongoing efforts by the National Assembly to advance state police reforms underscore the severity of the nation’s worsening security challenges.

According to the forum, the South-South governors must regard these developments as a clear warning signal, stressing that no responsible leadership should fold its arms while bandits, kidnappers, terrorists and criminal syndicates gain footholds across the region.

The group expressed concern that Delta State and other parts of the South-South are already experiencing security pressures from neighbouring states, even as the Niger Delta continues to grapple with kidnapping, cult-related violence, oil theft and other forms of organised crime.

IPF warned that criminal networks do not recognise state boundaries, noting that a threat that emerges in Edo State today could easily spread to Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa or Cross River states in the absence of a robust regional security framework anchored on intelligence sharing, maritime surveillance and joint emergency response mechanisms.

The forum lamented that the BRACED Commission, established to promote regional integration, security collaboration and socio-economic development among the South-South states, has remained largely dormant at a time when the region requires a unified approach to confront emerging threats.

It therefore urged the governors to immediately convene a South-South Security and Development Summit aimed at revitalising the BRACED Commission, establishing a regional security coordination centre, strengthening intelligence gathering and fostering a collective response to terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, sea piracy and economic sabotage.

“The South-South remains the economic backbone of Nigeria. Its waterways, roads, schools, markets, oil installations and communities must not be left vulnerable because of political indifference or delayed action,” the statement said.

The forum further cautioned that the time for action is now, warning that any delay could have grave consequences.

“Delay will be dangerous. Silence will be costly. History will not be kind to any leadership that ignored the warning signs and failed to act,” the statement added.

By David Owei, Bayelsa

The Bayelsa State Government has resolved the lingering leadership tussle in Twon-Brass Kingdom, following its intervention and agreement by the feuding parties to immediately withdraw all ongoing court cases concerning the conflict.

It also directed all government-recognized communities to run their affairs based on constitutions that are in line with the provisions of the state Community Administration and Chieftaincy Law to ensure effective leadership at the grassroots level.

The Deputy Governor, Dr. Peter Akpe, who made this known at a meeting with the leadership of the five communities in Twon-Brass Kingdom and other top government officials at Government House ,Yenagoa, on Wednesday, urged the people to complement government’s effort in maintaining the prevailing peace in the state.

Highlighting the key resolutions reached at the meeting, Dr Peter Akpe, noted that although all the five paramount rulers have equal powers, one of them would play the role of a coordinator for a maximum period of one year to avoid leadership vacuum in the Kingdom.

The Deputy Governor, who stressed that the coordinating arrangement will persist pending the enthronement of a new Amanyanabo, announced the appointment of Chief Beinmo Rufus-Spiff as the Coordinating Amadabo for the next one year with effect from Wednesday 17th June, 2026.

He also announced the setting up of a five-man constitution drafting committee, which has one nominee each from the five communities with Chief Claudius Kune-Igoni of Kemmer-Ama as its Chairman.

Members of the Committee which has eight weeks to complete its assignment include Chief Sisei Eke-Spiff Samuel of Ada-Ama, Chief James Sokari (Cameron-Ama), Chief Randy Sobogboma (Shidi-Ama) and Chief Bio Gbeghasa of Sambo-Ama.

Dr Akpe, who appreciated all the parties for their calm and mature disposition throughout the meeting, urged the paramount rulers and other critical stakeholders of Twon-Brass to always see themselves as “brothers from one large family” and for the progress of their kingdom.

His words: “On the issue of leadership, the 5 Amadabos have equal powers but at particular times like the situation the Kingdom is into now, there will be need for a coordinating Amadabo.

“That coordination does not give the coordinator any exclusive powers. You are just a coordinator among equals for a tenure maximum of one year as agreed. But if a King is not enthroned, there will be another coordinator who will be elected a month to the expiration of the one year tenure.

“We also agreed that the Amadabo of Cameron-Ama should start the coordinating process beginning from today (17th June, 2026). He will be in the saddle coordinating the affairs of the kingdom on all the issues including the finances and give report to the Amadabos once a month.

“All court cases should also be withdrawn. And finally, we resolved that Twon-Brass needs a constitution as a matter of urgency. Consequently, a 5-member constitution drafting committee has been set up with nominations from each of the Amadabos.”

The Bayelsa Number Two Man also emphasized the need for communities to have functional constitutions to make for effective administration and minimize conflicts in the various communities in accordance with the peace and security maintenance agenda of the Governor Douye Diri-led prosperity government.

According to him, the absence of written and functional constitutions in the local communities give room for unnecessary bickerings and leadership tussles, which often result in communal crises.

He said, “We have proposed in the Community Administration Bill that is before the House of Assembly now, and one of the clauses is the clause that all communities recognized by the state government should have a constitution.

“We have also created a provision for fourth class stools, as long as you are recognized by government as a community in the state, you must have a constitution. Everything in a community’s constitution must be in tandem with the State Chieftaincy Law and should not go ultra vires. That will also help to administer our communities effectively.”

Those who made presentations at the meeting include the paramount ruler of Sambo-Ama, Chief Ralph Sambo; that of Ada-Ama, Chief Serena Dokubo-Spiff, and their Cameron-Ama counterpart, Chief Beinmo Rufus-Spiff.

Others are Chief Oton Efebo-Shidi and Chief Israel Sunny Goli, the paramount of rulers of Shidi-Ama and Kemmer-Ama, respectively.