Mr. Isiaka had confessed to his crimes and his link with Tom Akete in the creeks of the Niger Delta, alleging that the latter was his boss while they engaged in pipeline sabotage and other destructive crimes.
Former warlord and ex-militant leader Tom Ateke has distanced himself from a notorious armed robber, Zakeri Isiaka, who was recently arrested by the Nigerian Police Force.
Mr. Isiaka had confessed to his crimes and his link with Tom Akete in the creeks of the Niger Delta, alleging that the latter was his boss while they engaged in pipeline sabotage and other destructive crimes.
In a statement issued by Mr. Ateke’s media aide, Ifeanyi Ogbonna, the ex-militant said that he does not know Mr. Isiaka, nor has he ever met him.
“The guy’s face [Mr. Isiaka] is not familiar. My boys, even during and after the struggle, were not into criminality, but we were focused on aims and objectives of the struggle, which is federal government presence in our region,” Mr. Ateke’s statement read.
"During my days in the struggle I met a lot of persons, but for the said Zakeri Isiaka, I have never met him. He should stop using my name in his criminal life."
Mr. Ateke also said that those who believe in his mission of liberating the Niger Delta should shun crime and work towards building peace, stability, and security in the region.
