How can Nigeria’s economic behemoths: the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU), Chevron Nigeria Limited, among others that cumulatively remit about N1 trillion annually to the Federal Government in taxes and other levies be hosted by Bonny Local Government Area and yet the people of the area cannot sleep with their two eyes closed?

This is the poser being raised by the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), which has challenged the Federal Government and its security agencies to compensate the forthrightness and altruism of the people of Bonny LGA with assurance of security on land and the waterways in the area or allow them protect themselves.

Chairman of IYC, Ibani Clan, Princewill Oko-Jumbo, who raised this poser, pointed out that the cooperation of the people of Bonny Kingdom and Bonny LGA as a whole is evidenced in the peaceful atmosphere that has made these multinationals to continue to thrive.  

Speaking during an interview with Kristina Reports in Bonny on the recent attack and abduction of four titled citizens of Bonny Kingdom at a funeral in Banigo Isile-Ogono on Saturday, September 12, 2020, Oko-Jumbo called on the authorities to prioritize the security of Bonny Kingdom in order to protect the nation’s economic investments in the area.

By authorities, the IYC leader said he was referring to President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Nyesom Wike, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonishakin, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and the Director General, Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi.   

In his words “I don’t think we should have any form of insecurity, because Bonny is the host to NLNG, Bonny is the host to Mobil, and Bonny is the host to SPDC.”

“Bonny Kingdom, as an LGA, is giving Federal Government N1 trillion annually. So, it is the duty of the state government, federal government, even the companies that Bonny is host to, to take the security issue of Bonny as their sole duty.”

“It is their duty because Bonny Kingdom is suffering alot in the hands of sea pirates, kidnappers, robbery, call it whatever, every kind of social vices. And we have the JTF here in Bonny, we have the naval base, we have the Nigeria Police, we have the DSS, everything is here in Bonny, we also have the civil defense.”

He called into question the intelligence gathering system of the various security agencies, wondering why recurring incidences of security breaches around the island LGA were not nipped in the bud before they happened.

“They should look into their security system. And all these bodies I am talking about have their intelligence units. So, do they want to tell us that their intelligence unit is not working or what? That we are facing this kind of a thing every time.”

Oko-Jumbo stated that though there was immense pressure on the group to intervene on the issue it was predisposed to synergize with relevant stakeholders to find lasting solution to the challenges.

“The situation is very, very embarrassing as an organization, it is an embarrassment to us because I know so many people in Bonny, the Niger Delta, at large, know the capacity of the Ijaw Youth Council. We have been having series of calls, people have been calling me, texting me, asking me how can we go about these issues. There is a lot of pressure on us to act as a body.”

“But you know one thing is that, Bonny Community is a community being governed by people. We have the Bonny Chiefs Council, we have the Amanyanabo in Council, we have the Bonny Local Government, and there are a lot of security apparatus that are in Bonny that it is their paramount duty to secure lives and properties here in Bonny.”

“We cannot take this any longer. As a body, we are running out of patience, there is pressure on us as youths of this kingdom and Ijaw people. Different people are calling, different youths are calling, that if the military, the security personnel cannot safeguard us, then it is better we safeguard ourselves. For how long will we continue like this? Who knows what will happen next?”

He advised the security agencies to engage the community gatekeepers and other stakeholders to source a homegrown solution to the deplorable security situation in the area.

“The truth of the matter is that, here in the kingdom, we are no longer safe anymore. So, something needs to be done. The security agencies need to go back to the drawing board. This is the time that all hands should be on deck.”

“I know too well that there is nothing that the Amanyanabo-in-Council involves himself that does not work. They should involve him, the Bonny Local Government, Bonny Chiefs Council, and others. We believe that if the Amanyanabo-in-Council comes into this issue and looks into it and we restrategize as a community, we will get it right as an LGA.”

Bonny LGA, which sits on the edge of Nigeria’s Atlantic coastline remains a critical component of the Gulf of Guinea security corridor, gateway into Nigeria’s South-Eastern economic hub, home to over a trillion Naira economic investment of the country, and the project site for the Nigeria LNG’s $4 billion Train 7 project.

Despite these high networth Bonny LGA represents to the economic profile of Nigeria, the area has been severely challenged in terms of security. This year alone, the island community has witnessed two kidnap incidents, one of which remains unresolved a week after it happened. 

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Ibani Clan Chairman, Princewill Oko-Jumbo reiterated that he was only amplifying the growing clamour for a review of the security arrangement in the area to assure residents of their safety as they go about their daily businesses.