Seriake Dickson, Bayelsa State Governor, has described members of the new militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), as “criminals and economic saboteurs”.

He decried what he termed the wanton killing of security personnel and innocent citizens and destruction of oil and gas facilities in the region by the NDA.

The governor made the remark when he met with representatives of International Oil Companies (IOCs) and security chiefs in Yenagoa to proffer solutions to the recent upsurge in criminal activities in the Niger Delta.

He said the development was sending a wrong signal to the international community as foreign investors were being scared away from investing in the country.

Dickson said the bombing of pipelines and other oil and gas assets was affecting the socio-economic growth of not only Bayelsa but the entire region.

According to him, stakeholders must discuss the way forward to nip in the bud the unwarranted and incessant destruction of critical national assets.

“The way forward is for all stakeholders to discuss the issues and the need for the Federal Government to tread with caution and not adopt military approach as a means to solve the problem.

“No one person can protect the assets in the remote areas of the region. I, therefore, call on those involved in this act of criminality and brigandage to stop forthwith”, he stated.

In his remark, the state Deputy Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukah, said security findings revealed that some oil-producing communities were not happy with the award of surveillance contracts by the IOCs to non-indigenes.

He said the meeting resolved to engage various communities in the region in a dialogue in order to put an end to the recent upsurge in criminal activities.

In their separate remarks, the Director of the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture, Monday Ovuedu, Group Executive Director, Media, Government and Public Affairs, Mr. Sola Omole and Head of Legal Services, CONOIL Plc, Michael Madugbe, said the oil companies operating in the region would collaborate with the government at sustaining peace in the region.

They noted that sustained engagement strategy with sincerity of purpose, and the need for all the stakeholders to work together for the collective interest of all, was what the parley was all about.