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A pressure group, Supreme Egbesu Freedom Fighters of Niger Delta (SEFFND), has lent its voice of support to former militant leader, Mujaheed Asari Dokubo, who accused some military personnel of participating in and encouraging illegal crude oil deals in the oil-rich region.
It also said it has the identities of military personnel who are involved in the said deals.
The deals include alleged illegal bunkering, outright oil theft and others.
Military authorities have since denied Dokubo’s claim and called on him to publicly identify the said personnel for possible sanctions.
But SEFFND, in a statement at the weekend, stirred more controversy in reopening the matter by backing Dokubo.
The group said it knows those involved and was prepared to name names even as it urged Federal Government not to stretch too far for evidence but should simply monitor what it described as the ‘’luxurious lifestyles, properties and bank accounts’’ of personnel posted to the region.
The SEFFND issued the statement, signed by its so-called General Commanding Officer (GCO), River Don.
It said the allegations levelled against the military cannot be further than the truth, insisting that some of the personnel were allegedly culpable in activities of economic sabotage.
The statement said: “We know those involved and their names can be mentioned and if the Federal Government, without bias, carries out thorough investigations on them vis-a-vis how their postings to the region plays out, properties, bank accounts and luxurious lifestyles, the Federal Government will be shocked to discover the damage done to the country by men who swore to protect it.”
Submitting that not all personnel posted to the region have their hands steeped in such economic atrocities, the group absolved some of involvement.
It stated: “However, we must state categorically that not all of them are involved in this illicit disheartening crude oil theft business, but the allegations made by Alhaji Asari Dokubo are not false allegations, nor far from the truth, neither meant to garner favour from the government.
‘’We appreciate the enormous sacrifices made by the military under the present democratic dispensation in the spirit of safeguarding the territorial territory of our dear nation against all odds.
“Alhaji Asari Dokubo as a patriot and a core Nigerian statesman has high respect for the military hierarchy or any other constituted authorities, which he has often displayed, and the military is at liberty to investigate the allegations.’’
Turning to associations which they claimed have latched onto the controversy to create rift between the military and Dokubo, SEFFND warned them to desist or face the wrath of militants. The group, however, did not say how or what form such threatened wrath will take.
SEFFND said: “We wish to use this opportunity to state clearly that Alhaji Asari Dokubo is not at war with the law enforcement agencies in the country as he had been in the forefront condemning hate speeches and insightful statements emanating from some prominent elite and elder statesmen that could create tension, disunity against other ethnic nationalities and insecurity without minding whose ox is gored.
‘’Dokubo believes in one indivisible Nigeria and stands faithful to his belief as a core Muslim who believes Almighty Allah is against lies and disunity.
“Supreme Egbesu Freedom Fighters of Niger Delta is awash with the self-centered activities as exemplified by the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Human Rights Writers Association, HURIWA, who have been issuing unwarranted statements based on ethnic bias, religious sentiments and destructive tendencies to misinform the general public.
‘’Such statements should stop henceforth, and stop playing the ostrich with their unprofessional, unguarded, provocative, diminishing and misleading information just to tarnish the hard-earned reputation of Alhaji Asari Dokubo who is a patriot and nationalist.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo and HURIWA should have known that Dokubo is not an enemy of the Nigerian State neither is he a threat to the Igbos as they have painted in the media and social space with despicable work just to blackmail him. We advise them to stop forthwith before the wrath of militants fall on them.’’
Peoplesmind
