Due to the upsurge in cases of assassination across the country, politicians in Bayelsa State have approached the police for protection.
Investigations by our correspondent in Yenagoa, the state capital on Sunday, showed that the number of politicians that had applied for police protection had increased.
The police could not confirm the figures to our correspondent.
Members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the opposition political parties, especially, those having cases at the election petitions tribunal sitting in the state, have also beefed up their security.
Our correspondent further observed that besides police protection, politicians had been patronising private security guards and bouncers, while their official and private residences were highly fortified.
Electrified fence wires, bullet-proof vehicles, doors and windows, as well as licensed guns are now commonplace in the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, State Command, Mr. Ibokette Iniobong, could not ascertain the number of politicians, who had applied for police protection.
Meanwhile, a non-governmental organisation, the Movement of the Ijaw International, has faulted the decision of the State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, not to establish an oil producing areas development commission.
In an interview in Yenagoa on Sunday, the President of MOII, Chief Andrew Ekiokenigha, said if the governments of Delta, Edo and Ondo states in the Niger Delta region, could establish similar commissions, the state government had no excuse for not doing so.
Sep172007