A former president of the Ijaw Youths Council and former militant leader in the Niger Delta, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, has been arrested by security operatives at the Nigerian end of the Seme border with Republic of Benin.
Investigations revealed that Dokubo was coming into the country from Cotonou, when operatives of the State Security Service arrested him.
It was gathered that Dokubo was on his way to the country to honour invitations from the leadership of repentant militants in the Niger Delta, in an effort to achieve lasting peace in the region.
Dokubo had disagreed with the Federal Government on the granting of amnesty to ex-militants.
He opposed the use of the term ‘amnesty,’ just as he disagreed with other militant leaders for embracing the programme.
Specifically, Dokubo had said that he was not embracing the amnesty because he had not committed any offence.
Our correspondent gathered that Asari had already completed his entry formalities with the men of the Nigeria Customs Service at the border, and was being attended to by an immigration officer identified as Isah, when he was arrested by operatives of the SSS.
The source could not disclose the reason for Dokubo’s arrest.
It was further learnt that there was a stampede at the border as Dokubo refused to honour the directive of the SSS to alight from his black Prado Jeep with a Benin Republic number.
He was said to have stayed inside the car for over three hours, as the operatives did not try to drag him out.
The source said, “He was coming into the country from Cotonou when they (SSS) stopped him. He has been there for the past three hours. He is still in his car.
“The security agents did not want his car to come into the country. He did not accept amnesty. He said that he did not embrace amnesty, because he did not commit any offence. I think since he left the country, he has been living in Europe.”
For d fact dat he does nt want d amnesty does nt mean dey shud arrest him except if dere r oda rizns attachd.He is stil a nigerian nd shud b alowd in2 his country who knws if d repentant militants want 2 talk sense in2 him by inviting him?Tank God dat a huge numba of dem has surrenderd
Nigerians should stop talking on issues they do not know much about, let everyone do his or her job effectively and Nigeria and Nigerians will enjoy. Allow SSS to do their job. Lets know the reason while he was arrested before critizising. Asari has the right not to accept amnesty. SSS are not kidnappers that they will just arrest him without geniue reason.
It is high time we Nigerians and the leadership begin to face the reality. Because, one is from Niger Delta where Nigeria is battling to maintain peace does not mean if a Niger Deltan is wanted, should not be arrested. Lets leave fanaticism, sectionalism, regionalism, trabalism and nepotism aside, and move Nigeria forward. My message is applicable to all the troubled parts of this country.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Godfrey (A Patrotic Nigerian)
well said.