By Emem Idio, Yenagoa

Leaders of Opu-Nembe, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have described as misleading and cheap blackmail, the attempt by the owner of Euphemie Hotel, to drag the name of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun into the issue of the community’s use of the facility for law enforcement agencies.

The sectors of the community represented by the Chairman, Deputy- Chief council, Chief Okolo Dede, Chairman, elders council, Indoma Igbalbo, Chairman, special elders council, Igbogi Yemabise Amalagha, Chairman, CDC, Mr. Konbonimi Awori, Youth President, Mr. Toinpre Sambo, Young Ladies President, Mrs. Beatrice Awululu Numoyu and Chairman Opu- Nembe Council of Chiefs, Chief Yousuo Theo Iruo, submitted that it is not true that the police team invaded Opu- Nembe and forcefully took over the facility.

According to them, in a statement in Yenagoa on Friday, contrary to what the hotelier would want the world to believe, it was the community that requested the deployment of the SWAT team following the insecurity that has descended on Opu- Nembe which needed a neutral police team to handle.

They explained that it was the community that gave Euphemie Hotel for the use of the police team, stressing that the IGP was not involved.

They pointed out that before the arrival of the Police Team at Euphemie Hotel, the facility was in a derelict condition, where snakes and other reptiles seek refuge.

The leaders stated that the hotelier attempt to force a debt of N625m at N50,000 per night for 50 rooms for 13 months on the IGP is not only laughable but a sad display of dishonesty which is least expected from the hotelier.

They advised Chief Obiene that if he is no longer interested in allowing the community to use his facility, he should follow the right procedure and write to the community which would seek an alternative accommodation for the police team.