By Sundiata Post
Amid heightened tension in the oil rich Niger Delta region, the Arogbo Ijaw National Front has raised the alarm of looming inter ethnic hostilities and robbery in the riverine communities of Ondo Sate.
This they alleged is as a result of the withdrwal of services by operatives of a local anti vices outfit, Gallery Security Services who are said to have pulled off their duty posts in the face of an Army operations in the area.
Also, the founder and chief executive officer of the anti vices outfit, who himself was a frontline commander of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Bibopre Ajube, has raised the alarm that his life has cone under threat from soldiers on ”unclear mission ”.
This is just as the chairman of Ese Odo Local Government, Hon Ebielatei Lubi, expressed fears that the presence of the soldiers in some parts of the council area was capable of creating a situation of ‘fear, insecurity and apprehension in his council area’.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
The Arogbo Ijaw National Front, in a statement by its president, Chief James Akubirisei, disclosed that the presence of the soldiers in the riverine area of the state has chased away the local waterways vigilante, alleging soldiers deployed to the area have abducted one Ebi Molos to an unknown destination.
”The reported continued search for the founder of Gallery Security Services is already heating up the security in the area because the man has contributed to the peace of the riverine than any other individual. He has made efforts aimed at ensuring peace in the riverine area and the way and manner he is being hunted by the soldiers for no just cause is a matter of concern to all and sundry.
”We are appealing to the military authorities to recall these soldiers because their presence which has forced out Gallery outfit vigilante from their posts is already creating fears of possible inter ethnic hostilities and even armed robbery in the riverine areas of Ondo state.
”As a man who has committed his resources and time to curb criminality even beyond Ondo state, the search for him over very imaginary reasons is curious and suspicious. We are compelled to say that this development is orchestrated by selfish politicians who are bent on getting Chief Ajube out of the way in view of the forthcoming governorship election in the state”, the statement said.
Hon Lubi, in whose council area the soldiers are allegedly stationed, said the presence of the soldiers was needless.
”The issue is needless and I think what we are witnessing today, I mean the presence of the soldiers in some parts of the council, is just the result of defective intelligence gathering that is capable of overheating the system.
”I find it difficult to believe that soldiers on the orders of whoever, are looking for a man who has done more than enough to ensure peace in the riverine area in terms of peace. My own advice is that the military authorities should withdraw the soldiers because no one in my council area has anything to do with the bombing of pipeline in Delta, there is no reason whatsoever for such”, the council boss said.
Reacting to reports that he was being hunted by the Army, Ajube said he was only a victim of his magnanimous efforts to ensure peace.
”I think I am just a victim of my magnanimous efforts towards peace in the riverine areas of the state and even beyond. Here I am, cooperating with the federal government to stop pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering in the coastal areas and beyond, but what is the result? While I am being hunted by the vandals and their sponsors for standing up against criminality, the same federal government has opted to launch a manhunt for me for highly spurious and unclear reasons.
” I have lost not only resources but painfully too, youths who chose to partner with me in this noble cause have lost their lives with several widows and fatherless children left for me to cater for.
”All I can say is that this move is aimed at diverting my attention from the path I have chosen to walk since accepting the federal government amnesty offer. But I will not. If the federal government deems it fit to brand me in a manner to implicate me for unknown reasons through this unclear mission, so be it”, Ajube said in a statement.
This they alleged is as a result of the withdrwal of services by operatives of a local anti vices outfit, Gallery Security Services who are said to have pulled off their duty posts in the face of an Army operations in the area.
Also, the founder and chief executive officer of the anti vices outfit, who himself was a frontline commander of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Bibopre Ajube, has raised the alarm that his life has cone under threat from soldiers on ”unclear mission ”.
This is just as the chairman of Ese Odo Local Government, Hon Ebielatei Lubi, expressed fears that the presence of the soldiers in some parts of the council area was capable of creating a situation of ‘fear, insecurity and apprehension in his council area’.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
The Arogbo Ijaw National Front, in a statement by its president, Chief James Akubirisei, disclosed that the presence of the soldiers in the riverine area of the state has chased away the local waterways vigilante, alleging soldiers deployed to the area have abducted one Ebi Molos to an unknown destination.
”The reported continued search for the founder of Gallery Security Services is already heating up the security in the area because the man has contributed to the peace of the riverine than any other individual. He has made efforts aimed at ensuring peace in the riverine area and the way and manner he is being hunted by the soldiers for no just cause is a matter of concern to all and sundry.
”We are appealing to the military authorities to recall these soldiers because their presence which has forced out Gallery outfit vigilante from their posts is already creating fears of possible inter ethnic hostilities and even armed robbery in the riverine areas of Ondo state.
”As a man who has committed his resources and time to curb criminality even beyond Ondo state, the search for him over very imaginary reasons is curious and suspicious. We are compelled to say that this development is orchestrated by selfish politicians who are bent on getting Chief Ajube out of the way in view of the forthcoming governorship election in the state”, the statement said.
Hon Lubi, in whose council area the soldiers are allegedly stationed, said the presence of the soldiers was needless.
”The issue is needless and I think what we are witnessing today, I mean the presence of the soldiers in some parts of the council, is just the result of defective intelligence gathering that is capable of overheating the system.
”I find it difficult to believe that soldiers on the orders of whoever, are looking for a man who has done more than enough to ensure peace in the riverine area in terms of peace. My own advice is that the military authorities should withdraw the soldiers because no one in my council area has anything to do with the bombing of pipeline in Delta, there is no reason whatsoever for such”, the council boss said.
Reacting to reports that he was being hunted by the Army, Ajube said he was only a victim of his magnanimous efforts to ensure peace.
”I think I am just a victim of my magnanimous efforts towards peace in the riverine areas of the state and even beyond. Here I am, cooperating with the federal government to stop pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering in the coastal areas and beyond, but what is the result? While I am being hunted by the vandals and their sponsors for standing up against criminality, the same federal government has opted to launch a manhunt for me for highly spurious and unclear reasons.
” I have lost not only resources but painfully too, youths who chose to partner with me in this noble cause have lost their lives with several widows and fatherless children left for me to cater for.
”All I can say is that this move is aimed at diverting my attention from the path I have chosen to walk since accepting the federal government amnesty offer. But I will not. If the federal government deems it fit to brand me in a manner to implicate me for unknown reasons through this unclear mission, so be it”, Ajube said in a statement.