Following the continuous threats issued by the leader of the dreaded Islamic fundamentalists, Abubakar Shekau, there are fears that the dangerous sect, which has its base in the North-East part of the country, may extend its operations to the core South-South States like that of Rivers and Bayelsa. Of recent Boko Haram has threatened that 2015 would be more than do or die affair, and that they would go after President Goodluck Jonathan and attack the Niger Delta region.
Fears gripped the people of the two states, as security agents are jittery over the planned attack. The residents of the both states (Rivers and Bayelsa) are now living in perpetual fear, as some governments of states in the southern region of the country are bracing for possible attack by the faceless Boko Haram.
The Rivers and Bayelsa might be the target of the deadly Islamic insurgents, because they are the home state of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Beside this, the both states host most of the multi-national corporations that sustain the economy of Nigeria.
In Rivers State, Parents are entertaining fears as schools resumed for third term. Many who spoke with our correspondent called on the state government and the relevant security agencies to beef up security within the city of Port Harcourt and its environs to tackle any form of security challenges. They decried the high rate of insecurity in the state, demanded the security agencies do something about it. Information had it that security gadgets have been placed in the various locations in Port Harcourt.
However, a security expert who spoke with our reporter the way and the manner in which the terrorists are operating expressed fears that they could break through any security system put in place in any part of the state. According to him nowhere is safe in Nigeria.
For the fear of being attacked some states in the South South geo-political region through their States’ Police Commands have urged the residents not to panic, alleging that the police have mapped out strategies to tackle insecurity. According to them, several security precautions have in place to frustrate any security challenge that might affect the well-being of their citizenry.
Information reaching our news desk had it that several parents whose female children and wards are in the boarding school of the Federal Government Girls Secondary School, Port Harcourt and other private schools have withdrawn their children for fear of being taken captive by the faceless members of Boko Haram cult group.
Meanwhile, the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, has dared Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, to be prepared to meet him on the battle field, that he would destroy him within a split of second.
Asari-Dokubo, who dismissed the threat by the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau, against President Goodluck Jonathan, warned that 2015 would be “more than do-or-die.”
The Niger Delta region former freedom fighter, who spoke last week during a strategic partnership session with former militant leaders organized by the Niger Delta Development Commission, recalled how Shekau threatened that the violent Islamic sect would soon come for President Jonathan. Asari-Dokubo alleged that the Boko Haram leader is not his match and that he would defeat him (Shekau) if he ventures into the Niger Delta territory
Asari-Dokubo cautioned that the people of Niger Delta would not be deterred by any threat to them or President Jonathan and added that the 2015 election remained a challenge to the survival of the people of the region.
He said, “They are starting oo! Shekau (Boko Haram leader) said in his video that we should not play with them. He said ‘Goodluck, I am coming for you. Niger Delta, we are coming for you.’ Are we going to allow them? They will shoot the guns; throw the bombs and that is when we will dance. Asari-Dokubo warned Shekau to stay away from President Jonathan and Niger Delta to avoid catastrophe in the country.
“2015 is more than do-or-die. It is our very survival that is being challenged; it is our very existence that is being challenged and we must tell them; you are a man and I am a man, we are going to meet at the battlefield. Be prepared, be watchful. The enemies should not be allowed. In this region, there will be only one vote.”
Asari-Dokubo also dismissed the call by the North for the scrapping of NDDC and the reduction of 13 percent derivation to five percent, adding that such call from the North will be ignored.
According to him, “The people from the North have said that NDDC should be scrapped. They said 13 percent derivation should be reduced to five percent and that nobody owns oil.
“We have to gather again and tell them (North) that they dare not do it (scrap NDDC and reduce derivation). If they (North) try it now, they will see it. It is because our brother is the President; that is why we are hanging it (peaceful).”
Calling on the NDDC to empower the people of the Niger Delta region, Asari-Dokubo lamented a situation where huge contracts were awarded to non-Niger Delta indigenes without consideration for the people of the region. ###
