July 31, 2008
About 50 security operatives today raided the residence of the leader of Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Asari Dokubo.
The house, at 9 Adzote Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, was swarmed by a combined team of soldiers, policemen, state security services (SSS) agents and Nigerian immigration services personnel. The security officials, armed with a search warrant, arrested seven expatriates, a Russian and 6 Lebanese.
Asari was away at the annual "BORO DAY" celebration in memory of late Ijaw leader, Major Isaac Adaka Boro at the International conference center. This year’s event was titled, "Peace in the Niger Delta" and Asari received word of the raid midway into the event. He announced the development to attendees and drove to the house in the company of Uche Onyeogocha, formerly of the House of Representatives.
Asari later told Saharareporters over the phone that he was surprised by the actions of the Nigerian government, saying the foreign nationals arrested were members of his Automobile Academy Company, an auto mechanic business he owns. "I am an auto mechanic and these guys are expatriates working for my company," he said.
Attempts by newsmen to cover the raid were frustrated by the security operatives who cordoned off the road leading to the house, and beat up a Channels Television cameraman who tried to take pictures.
A presidency official told Saharareporters that the raid on Asari's house was in connection with intelligence reports that he was accommodating in his premises foreign nationals whose mission and immigration status in Nigeria were unclear to the government.
"We have reasonable suspicion that he might have brought in some Middle Easterners to train his fighters for another round of militant activity in the Niger Delta region", the official said to Saharareporters, speaking on condition of anonymity. He also claimed that the Federal government rented the house for Asari as a way of rehabilitating him after his release from prison.
But Asari told Saharareporters that he could not ascertain who paid for the house, saying the house was rented for him by some Ijaw leaders who didn't want him to live in Warri because of concern he would resume militant activities. He denied ever receiving money from Yar'adua's Vice, Goodluck Jonathan to rent a house in Abuja. He further said that some non-Ijaws were responsible for renting him a house at Victoria Garden City in Lagos. "Would you now say that Yar'adua paid for that one", he queried.
He told Saharareporters that his lawyers have stepped into the matter, asked about the BORO Day celebrations, he bragged that the events will continue with a dinner scheduled for tonight.
The house, at 9 Adzote Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, was swarmed by a combined team of soldiers, policemen, state security services (SSS) agents and Nigerian immigration services personnel. The security officials, armed with a search warrant, arrested seven expatriates, a Russian and 6 Lebanese.
Asari was away at the annual "BORO DAY" celebration in memory of late Ijaw leader, Major Isaac Adaka Boro at the International conference center. This year’s event was titled, "Peace in the Niger Delta" and Asari received word of the raid midway into the event. He announced the development to attendees and drove to the house in the company of Uche Onyeogocha, formerly of the House of Representatives.
Asari later told Saharareporters over the phone that he was surprised by the actions of the Nigerian government, saying the foreign nationals arrested were members of his Automobile Academy Company, an auto mechanic business he owns. "I am an auto mechanic and these guys are expatriates working for my company," he said.
Attempts by newsmen to cover the raid were frustrated by the security operatives who cordoned off the road leading to the house, and beat up a Channels Television cameraman who tried to take pictures.
A presidency official told Saharareporters that the raid on Asari's house was in connection with intelligence reports that he was accommodating in his premises foreign nationals whose mission and immigration status in Nigeria were unclear to the government.
"We have reasonable suspicion that he might have brought in some Middle Easterners to train his fighters for another round of militant activity in the Niger Delta region", the official said to Saharareporters, speaking on condition of anonymity. He also claimed that the Federal government rented the house for Asari as a way of rehabilitating him after his release from prison.
But Asari told Saharareporters that he could not ascertain who paid for the house, saying the house was rented for him by some Ijaw leaders who didn't want him to live in Warri because of concern he would resume militant activities. He denied ever receiving money from Yar'adua's Vice, Goodluck Jonathan to rent a house in Abuja. He further said that some non-Ijaws were responsible for renting him a house at Victoria Garden City in Lagos. "Would you now say that Yar'adua paid for that one", he queried.
He told Saharareporters that his lawyers have stepped into the matter, asked about the BORO Day celebrations, he bragged that the events will continue with a dinner scheduled for tonight.
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