IYC warns Buhari against military action, says Asari must not be arrested

Prominent Niger Delta agitator, Asari Dokubo, has claimed his life is no longer safe and that he and his family members are living in fear.

Meanwhile, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide, have warned the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, over the deployment of Army and other security operatives to obstruct the electoral process in Rivers State and subvert the will of the people of Rivers State.

IYC in a press statement on Monday by its National President, Barrister Oweilaemi Pereotubo, also warned the Federal Government against any plot to arrest their leader, Alhaji Muhajid Asari Dokubo, declaring that the unnecessary and unprovoked action will not be accepted by the Ijaw nation.

The 54-year-old Dokubo raised the alarm after soldiers allegedly invaded his home on Monday morning in Obuama community in the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.

He said though he would not flee his house, he feared there could be more visits by soldiers.

Speaking with our correspondent during a telephone interview on Monday afternoon, the former militant leader said the soldiers searched the entire premises, including cars parked within the compound, before taking away two of his cousins.

He said, “My life and that of my family members are no longer safe. Over 200 soldiers invaded my home on Monday morning and held us hostage for more than two hours.

“They searched the entire building and all the cars parked within the compound. When I asked them what the problem was, their leader told me they were acting on orders from above.

“The disturbing aspect of the whole thing is that they didn’t even inform the army personnel securing the community before coming in to carry out their operation. So when they arrived, those ones were also confused, they didn’t know what to do.”

He added, “After holding us hostage for more than two hours and failing to find anything incriminating, they took away two of my male cousins. As we speak, I have yet to know where they took them to.”

When asked if the invasion had anything to do with Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state, Dokubo answered in the affirmative, saying those bent on throwing the state into crisis were behind the attack on him.

He said, “Definitely, the invasion of my home by the army has everything to do with Saturday’s election in Rivers State.

“The exercise was widely compromised by those who want crisis in this state and now they are using soldiers to intimidate all those they think can oppose their plan.

“I will not leave my home and run to anywhere. If they like, they should put soldiers everywhere, I will remain in my house.”

IYC FULL STATEMENT

My attention has been drawn to a development in Harris town in Degema local Government of rivers state where ten  trucks of the Nigerian military have invaded the residence of our leader and former President of the Ijaw youth council  Alhaji Muhajid Asari Dokubo and are about to arrest him.

This unprovoked, unnecessary and illegal arrest of our leader will not be accepted by the Ijaw people.

We have watched calmly as the Nigerian Military under the influence of Amaechi and the APC led Federal  government  have continued to harass main and kill our innocent people all in their inordinate ambition to rig River state Election or to cause gross insecurity and declare a state of emergency against the express wishes of the Rivers people.

Only a few days ago, the residence of King Ateke Tom in Okuchiri, in Okrika local Government area was invaded and one shot dead with several injured and properties destroyed.

Within the period of these elections Ijaw people have lost over fifty people and everyone of it has been caused directly or indirectly by the cheer desperation of the All Progressive congress led Government.

The Ijaw Nation views these actions as a deliberate declaration of war and as a people with rights we will not watch our people continue to be killed. We have a right to defend ourselves and we will not hesitate to take such steps to safeguard our people and its heritage.

We want to use this medium to inform the Nigeria people and the international community that the peace of our region is being destroyed and the implications will be grave.

As a peace loving people, we orchestrated and accepted the proclamation of the Amnesty programs as a means and vehicle towards the cessation of arms conflict and violence to enable the region have its fair share of aggressive government attention while at the same time give the federal government the avenue to deal with the age long issues of deprivation marginalisation and underdevelopment.

 Thus the relative peace enjoyed in the region.

However let it be on record that if anything happens to Alhaji Muhajid Asari Dokubo, the Ijaw Nation will take steps that will not be convenient to the Nigerian Nation. We have bled too much to keep the unity of this Nation. Enough is enough.

Accordingly we call on the President and commander in chief to call the Nigeria military to order and restore a civil administration of justice as clearly enshrined in our constitution.

Rivers is not at war and we wonder why the militarisation especially when the North East  is ravaged by the nonstop effects of the deadly terrorise group Boko Haram and the military is comfortable here and not in such areas of gross necessity .

Asari must not be arrested or harmed. 

We looked patiently to the resolution of his unethical action of the Nigeria Military by the President and commander in chief of the federal republic of Nigeria.