Operatives of the State Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Bayelsa State Police Command have arrested six teenagers at the Bayelsa State Government’s Internally Displaced Camp located at the Ox-Bow Lake in Yenagoa, the state capital over alleged involvement in acts of sodomy.
The teenagers who are between 14 and 16 years, were arrested after an alarm was raised by people in the camp and reported the teens to the IDP Coordinator and a Member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Koku Obiyah Ebiowo. Immediately, the police were involved to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
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It was gathered that the teenage boys involved, were residents of the displaced Cameroon camp located along the submerged area of Azikoro road and may have been influenced by that area.
The Police spokesman in Bayelsa State, SP Asinim Butswat, who confirmed the arrest, however, said that since those allegedly involved in the acts are minors they will be released to their parents but a discreet investigation would be carried out to ascertain if there is the possible influence of an adult.
A reliable source at the IDP camp told journalists that the proactive nature and vigilance of the IDP camp management committee led to the quick arrest of the situation.
The source said, “The boys were discovered to have been engaging in the sodomy act every night at the waterside. On Thursday, someone alerted one of the perpetrator’s parents about the act of her child and the mother immediately informed the camp management committee.”
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Gender Advocacy group, Gender Response Initiative team led by its Chairman, Barr. Dise Ogbise has visited the camp to intensify the sensitization campaign against illicit sexual acts including homosexuality, sodomy, and prostitution.
Speaking during the sanitization campaign, Ogbise urged the residents of the camps particularly the underaged to protect themselves against sexual violation and violence, telling them to speak out if violated by anyone within and outside the IDP camps.
