Asari Dokubo

Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo, the leader of Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF), has raised alarm over alleged threat to his life by those he believes are "agents of the Federal Government."

A close associate of Dokubo, Mr. Nanawe Igbanibo, made the allegation in Abuja weekend on his behalf. He said Dokubo had to "go underground when the threats became intense."

In a statement, Igbanibo said "of late, the man who voluntarily quit militant activities several months ago has been put under surveillance by undercover security operatives whom he said were suspected to be working for the federal government."

He said Asari got to know of the plot to assassinate him after noticing that his movements were being trailed. He added that Asari has also been receiving strange telephone calls warning him to avoid public outings to avoid being eliminated.

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Igbanibo stressed that some of Asari’s friends from the government circles had also advised him to be watching his back if only to guarantee his personal security.

He alluded to the earlier raiding and ransacking of Asari’s residence in Abuja as a signal to the plot to eliminate him, stressing that Asari himself and his sympathizers were shocked when the security operatives denied ever sending any of their men on such a mission.

According to the statement, "the invading team had all the arms of the security organizations represented and they were armed to the teeth. As we speak, this government has not come out to state any tangible reasons for the raid. All those who spoke denied knowledge and that’s the issue.

"When nothing incriminating was found after laying siege for close to ten hours, they pounced on Mujahid’s foreign partners who were assisting in putting together an automobile school/mechanic worksho p and deported them.

"After a series of harassments which culminated in the physical detention of Alhaji Dokubo Asari’s family during the last raid on his house, whilst he was busy hosting an economic conference in honour of Isaac Adaka Boro, we are forced to conclude that the Government of the day is bent on destabilizing the Niger Delta region through a plan to either eliminate Mujahid Dokubo Asari or smear his image here and abroad.

It further states that "Mujahid came out of prison last year, and after a series of meetings with South-South leaders, he decided to play the Peace-maker role. He held several discussions, met with government leaders, regional leaders, past presidents and politicians all in a bid to make a bold move for the Niger Delta to breath."

 

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