From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) yesterday ,commenced the second phase of its Social Cohesion Building for Youth, Communities, and Government Security Actors initiative in Yenagoa, Bayelsa capital.

The programme, funded by the European Union, was designed to strengthen collaboration between communities and security institutions to build peace in the Niger Delta region.

Speaking on behalf of PIND’s Executive Director, Sam Daibo, the Team-Lead for PIND to the event, Faith Etukudo, described the initiative as a timely response to perceived mistrust and communication breakdowns that have strained relations between communities and security actors in the region.

“This initiative creates a safe and structured space for dialogue, truth-telling, and joint peace actions between communities and the institutions charged with protecting them,” he said.

He recalled that the pilot phase kicked off in 2024, adding that the initiative is part of the European Union-funded project, A Community-Centered Approach to Transforming Criminality and Violence in the Niger Delta, implemented in collaboration with Search for Common Ground (SFCG) and Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN).

According to him, the second phase will be implemented in 10 communities across five Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Bayelsa.

The selected communities are Sagbama and Agbere in Sagbama LGA, Ekeremor and Toru Ndoro in Ekeremor LGA, Sampou and Odi in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA, Igbomotoro and Opuama in Southern Ijaw LGA, and Gbarain-Toru and Agbia/Nedugo in Yenagoa LGA.

Solomon Diri, spokesman for the NSCDC in Bayelsa, in his presentation, noted that the mandate of the corps, which includes: protecting critical assets and infrastructure, disaster management, and regulating private security operators, among others, required the support of all.

Diri explained that the people were at the centre of its activities as it prioritises human rights, ensuring that its detention facilities meet prescribed standards.

He said the NSCDC relies heavily on the communities for credible information to combat crime.

On his part, Mr Daniel Oba, Public Relations Officer of NDLEA in Bayelsa, noted that the fight against drug abuse was in the overall interest of society but regretted that communities often obstruct NDLEA officials from carrying out their lawful duties.

Oba, who noted that the menace of drugs was fueling insecurity and violent crimes in society, appealed to communities to leverage their knowledge of their areas and join the NDLEA in the fight against illicit drug trade, cultivation, drug use, and addiction.

On his part, DSP Musa Mohammed, Police Public Relations Officer in Bayelsa, applauded PIND and other implementing Civil Society Organisations for the peace-building initiatives targeted at creating a bond of friendship between security operatives and the people in the Niger Delta.

Robert Bokolor, a community leader at the event, noted that the sessions were very insightful and have enabled the communities to understand the challenges faced by the security officials deployed to the Niger Delta region.

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