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| Asari Dokubo (middle) |
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.
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, โMy 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.
โThey 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.
โThe disturbing aspect of the whole thing is that they didnโt 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 didnโt know what to do.โ
He added, โAfter 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.โ
When asked if the invasion had anything to do with Saturdayโs 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, โDefinitely, the invasion of my home by the army has everything to do with Saturdayโs election in Rivers State.
โThe 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.
โI will not leave my home and run to anywhere. If they like, they should put soldiers everywhere, I will remain in my house.โ
