Posted by Our correspondents on
Sporadic gunfire erupted in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Tuesday night as youths took to the streets to demand the release of the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujaheeden Asari Dokubo.
Sporadic gunfire erupted in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Tuesday night as youths took to the streets to demand the release of the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujaheeden Asari Dokubo.
The crisis, which spilled into the early hours of Wednesday, forced the closure of banks, schools and shops in the city.
Port Harcourt hosts most of the major oil exploration companies.
One of the oil firms, Shell Petroleum Development Company, sent its workers home and directed those in the Western Division, Warri to be on the alert.
Our correspondents reported that the areas worst hit by the violence were Port Harcourt Main Township, Garrison, Waterlines, Government Reservation Area Junction on Aba Road, as well as Mile One and Mile Three in Diobu.
The youth, mostly NDPVF members, moved round Port Harcourt in no fewer than 20 buses brandishing AK-47 rifles, axes, machetes, clubs and other dangerous weapons.
They shot sporadically into the air, sending residents scampering to safety.
As the situation degenerated, especially at Garrison, riot policemen deployed to curtail the crisis beat a retreat.
The policemen later re-mobilised and took over strategic junctions in Port Harcourt.
Soldiers who joined them to restore normalcy were seen patrolling major streets in the city.
Dokubo's deputy, Mr. Takuro Beeson, who accompanied him to the headquarters of the Rivers State Police Command, had threatened that the NDPVF members would disrupt oil exploration in the Niger Delta if their leader was not released within 24 hours.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Rivers State Command, Mrs. Ireju Barasua, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the situation was under control and maintained that Dokubo was not arrested, but 'merely invited for a chat" at the Force Headquarters.
The state government warned those capitalising on the situation to harass innocent residents to have a rethink or face the wrath of the law.
'The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to the state of unease in certain parts of Port Harcourt. Information available to government is that this is connected to the invitation of Alhaji Asari Dokubo by the Inspector-General of Police," the Commissioner for Information, Mr Magnus Abe, said.
'We have confirmed that Alhaji Asari Dokubo is in the safe custody of the IG in Abuja. We therefore urge all members of the public to remain calm and law abiding,"Abe added.
Dokubo was arrested in Port Harcourt and taken to Abuja on Tuesday for what the police described as 'seditious and treasonable publication credited to him in some newspapers."
Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Haz Iwendi, in a statement claimed that the NDPVF leader had 'admitted to, and stood by, the contents of the publication."
Iwendi added that Dokubo was cooperating with the police and may be 'prosecuted if found culpable."
The police, he said, had 'taken adequate security measures to ensure no breakdown of law and order.
'We wish to reassure all Nigerians and foreigners of their safety and the protection of oil installations."
Iwendi also said that Dokubo was not arrested in connection with last Thursday's arrest of the Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha in London.
The NDPVF leader is said to be detained at the Pent House of the Force Headquarters under heavy security.
On September 10, a national newspaper (not THE PUNCH) published an interview with Dokubo in which he said, "Nigeria is an evil entity. It has nothing to stand on and I will continue to fight and try to see that Nigeria dissolves and disintegrates."
Dokubo, who may be arraigned in an Abuja court on Thursday (today), was once declared wanted by the police but President Olusegun Obasanjo invited him for peace talks after he gave a series of high-profile media interviews and threatened to disrupt oil exports.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Frank Nweke, said that Dokubo would remain in police custody until his interrogation was completed.
He said at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, that the Federal Government was committed to protecting the lives of Nigerians and the sovereignty of the nation and would not condone "seditious and inflammatory" statements by any group.
Before Nweke and Iwendi spoke, the Deputy NDPVF Commander, Mr Alali Horsefall, threatened to "bomb oil installations if he did not hear from Dokubo within hours."
Horsefall therefore implored foreigners in the Niger Delta to, in their own interest, leave.
To avoid recording casualty, the SDPC, which on Tuesday advised its workers in the troubled Niger Delta to be on the alert, asked those in Port Harcourt to return to their homes.
In a statement, SDPC General Manager (Production), Western Division, Mr Maarten Wink, however, advised those in other divisions not to travel to Port Harcourt.
Wink said, 'Further to the note sent out earlier this afternoon, I would like to update you on the current situation.
'Most of you will have heard of the civil disturbances in certain parts of Port Harcourt today but fortunately, information obtained from Delta State security and prominent community leaders indicates that it is unlikely that such disturbances will extend into our operational areas.
'At the moment, all locations in the Western Division are peaceful but we will keep constant feelers out about development.
'Staff are advised to go about their business as normal but to exercise caution and should not travel to Port Harcourt for the time being especially by road.
'Likewise, travel in darkness is advised against. Inter and intra-field travels have been scaled down to reduce exposure but otherwise activities continue as normal."
Situation report by our correspondents, who visited SPDC's locations in Warri metropolis, showed that workers were gripped by fear.
Operations were at low ebb in the company as the workers discussed the latest development.
SPDC's Corporate External Affairs Manager, Mr. Tom Boham, described the closure of Port Harcourt operation of the company as a precautionary measure.
Boham told our correspondents that 'Government said the situation had been taken care of, but members of staff's families will be worried.
'We cannot watch the situation, so we asked our employees to go home for the time being.''
Meanwhile, the Pro-National Conference Organisations has sent a team of lawyers to Abuja to secure Dokubo's release.
The group, in a statement by its Director, Media, Mr. Wale Okunniyi, said, 'PRONACO leadership has also been appealing to PRONACO members in the Niger Delta for calm and to await the results of PRONACO intervention in the matter."
The PUNCH, Thursday September 22, 2005