WAR ON VANDALS: Bayelsa Commissioner Unleashes Armed Crackdown On ‘Criminal Cartel’ Looting ICT Village
By Passman Akpos
YENAGOA — In a fiery outburst that sent shockwaves across Bayelsa State, the Commissioner for Communication, Science & Technology, Engr. Gibson Edwin Munalayefa, has declared total war on the growing network of scavengers, miscreants, and criminal gangs allegedly running a coordinated assault on government infrastructure.
During an unscheduled inspection of the Bayelsa State ICT Village along Sani Abacha Express Road, Amarata, the visibly enraged Commissioner condemned what he described as a “relentless, shameless vandalism industry” targeting state-owned assets — including solar panels, air conditioners, cables, and other high-value installations.
According to Munalayefa, the criminals have become so bold that they now operate in broad daylight, stripping vital public facilities and reselling them under the false claim that they are “unserviceable.”
But the Commissioner declared that the era of tolerance is over.
> “From this moment, government will no longer tolerate a single act of sabotage. Anyone caught will face the full wrath of the law — and I mean full,” he warned.
He revealed that several suspects were recently arrested after investigations traced stolen items back to them — as well as to buyers who knowingly purchased government property disguised as scrap. These individuals, he confirmed, have already been charged to court.
To dismantle what appears to be an entrenched criminal ring, Munalayefa announced that special armed security personnel have now been deployed to the ICT Village and its surrounding areas. Their mission: drive out every scavenger, every loitering hoodlum, and every criminal element exploiting the community.
The Commissioner also issued a stern warning to families and community leaders:
> “Parents, guardians, youth leaders — take note. It will no longer be business as usual. If your child or community member is caught vandalising public infrastructure, there will be consequences.”
With the new surveillance systems activated, and armed officers stationed on-site, Bayelsa’s ICT Village has effectively become a no-go zone for vandals.
Residents are watching closely as the government prepares to strike hard against what many now describe as a “criminal cartel feeding fat on public property.”
The battle for the ICT Village has
