ABUJA, Nigeria – Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has announced its intentions to write to international leaders regarding the Nigerian Federal Government’s failure to arrest the prominent Niger Delta leader and former agitator, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo.
The civil rights advocacy group alleges that Asari-Dokubo is a threat to the security and wellbeing of the Nigerian state and its citizens.
In a statement released on Monday, July 3, 2023, by HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the organization expressed concern over what it perceives as the administration of President Bola Tinubu’s reluctance to take action against Asari-Dokubo, despite his alleged possession of assault rifles and threats against the lives and property of the Igbo people in Nigeria.
HURIWA criticized the Tinubu administration for its inaction, suggesting that it is contributing to the creation of a dangerous individual in Asari-Dokubo, who has reportedly challenged the military and threatened to bring Nigeria’s oil production to a halt if he is arrested.
Prior to this statement, HURIWA had issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Federal Government to arrest Asari-Dokubo over his alleged association with violent activities and “unknown gunmen” in the South-East, warning of nationwide protests.
Asari-Dokubo, who met with President Tinubu last month, was seen in a widely-circulated video wielding AK-47 rifles and threatening violence against Igbos for their support of Labour Party’s Peter Obi in the presidential election held on February 25, 2023.
He expressed his preference for President Tinubu, who was a candidate of the All Progressives Congress at that time.
Onwubiko raised alarms about the perceived inaction by the Federal Government, saying, “Is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu afraid of Asari-Dokubo so much so that he is threatening to destroy Nigeria? We call on the President to immediately disarm this Asari-Dokubo and his mercenaries before he becomes like the Wagner founder in Russia.”
He further stated that HURIWA is planning to write to world leaders about the threats made by Asari-Dokubo against the Igbo community and Nigeria as a whole, and urged Nigerians to be vigilant regarding how the Federal Government is handling the situation.
Additionally, Onwubiko called on security agencies, including the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Police Force, to provide protection for citizens who intend to stage peaceful protests, to prevent violence as threatened by Asari-Dokubo.
The statement concluded with a concern about President Tinubu’s associations with Asari-Dokubo, and a commitment from HURIWA to develop strategies to address the issue while ensuring the safety of its members.
