By Emmanuel Sixtus
The name Asari Dokubo will continue to be associated with militancy and gun violence as long as the country exists. The issue of militancy took prominence in Nigeria decades ago, after the federal government of Nigeria could not reach a common derivation agreement with the people of the Niger Delta.
The Niger Delta region consists of all the oil-producing states of the country, but the invented Southsouth is the main region known for the activities of militancy. The region succumbed to its worst security problem during the regime of former president Olusegun Obasanjo, who could not reach a derivation agreement with the region.
The region had been complaining about the oil being lifted from their lands, which left their region at risk of oil spillage, resulting in their farmlands being unable to produce what they needed to survive on. The region demanded a lofty derivation percentage, and after some time, the federal government could not agree with the leadership of the region, and militancy dawned.
In the Niger Delta region, almost every youth at home engages in militancy; they see the activities, which include lifting oil illegally and attacking government-installed oil installations as a means of survival.
The militants later engaged in kidnapping but focused on kidnapping expatriates and government oil workers. The issue of militancy was said to be backed by leaders of the region as a means to pressure the government to succumb to the derivation agreement they put forward as of then.
The likes of Ateke Tom, Tompolo, and Asari Dokubo were on the front lines, with Asari being more of an armed activist who got detained on several occasions. The militants divided along tribal lines, with Asari taking charge of most Ijaw youths who were fighting for the derivation then.
The groups got armed to the teeth and faced government security personnel, including the military. The war termed the Niger Delta War lasted almost throughout the administration of former president Olusegun Obasanjo until his successor took over and briefly stemmed the tide of militancy in the country.
While it appeared the militants surrendered their weapons for amnesty, it was widely reported that the militants kept away their main weapons and only surrendered with suspicion. They believed the government could not be trusted, and with cautious optimism, they dropped guns but didn’t surrender them entirely.
Most of the militants have embraced different businesses, but it appears each administration in the country has a militant they work with. Tompolo was the lead militant in the Niger Delta during the administration of Goddluck Jonathan, and when President Muhammadu Buhari took over, he appeared to continue until this current administration.
Asari Dokubo is the lead former militant in the region waxing stronger and appears to have a close relationship with the government of President Bola Amed Tinubu. He has a security group he registered under his legal security network. His boys are loyal to him, and often he records activities of his security and speaks highly of their accomplishments.
Most former Niger Delta militants engage the government in what they called security contracts, where they protect pipelines for the government, but with Asari, he moved away from the conventional pipeline security.
He recruited boys to fight insurgencies and insecurity in the country. He said his security group is a better alternative to the country’s army. He argued that the military has failed to do their work, which his security group is capable of or has done.
It is believed that Asari Dokubo was behind the suppression of the IPOB movement in the south-south region of the country and has been accused of extending his activities in the southeast, which is the stronghold of IPOB-ESN.
Asari Dokubo has never had a standoff with the current Nigerian government, and it’s believed that he has a good relationship with the administration of President Bola Amed Tinubu, but his political battle with former governor Nyesome Wike seems to be coming between him and President Bola Amed Tinubu.
In a rare and extraordinary standoff, the Nigerian military has openly dared the former Niger Delta militant leader to a duel after he made provocative remarks about the nation’s military strength. This challenge came in response to Dokubo’s repeated public claims about his private army’s abilities and his derogatory comments about the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The council election in Rivers State ignited the recent issue. Former governor Nyesome Wike wants to continue to have a level of control in the state, which has caused significant problems between him and his successor. Asari Dokubu complained that a military helicopter was hovering over his home on Council Election Day, and he threatened to shoot down the helicopter.
This shameful move by the nation’s military to challenge Asari Dokubo’s security to a duel has captivated Nigerians, sparking a national debate.
The incident deteriorated earlier this week when Dokubo, known for his controversial history and leadership of a militia in the Niger Delta, boasted about his group’s power and implied that his forces could outmatch the national military. The Defence Headquarters didn’t take this lightly and swiftly retaliated by challenging Dokubo to a face-off, aiming to demonstrate the strength of the Nigerian military.
The military’s challenge quickly gained traction on social media, with Nigerians discussing the potential clash between Dokubo’s militia and the national forces. While some dismissed the exchange as mere rhetoric, others voiced concerns about the risk of escalating tensions, especially given the region’s history of conflict in the Niger Delta.
“Star Wars, I think that is the kind of war we are going to see. I don’t see the reason a country’s military should challenge private security; it’s unreal, and I believe it’s going to be star war,” Bob Udom said.
Critics say that it is an insult for the country’s military to give such attention to a private security organization. They said it further shows how weak the country’s military is because private security is not a match to a country’s military. They said the military has lost its way.
This confrontation arises at a time when the Nigerian military is already facing significant security challenges across the country, from battling Boko Haram insurgents in the Northeast to addressing widespread banditry and kidnappings. Many critics also argue that getting entangled in a public feud could distract the military from focussing on these critical national security issues.
As the situation evolves, both Asari Dokubo and the military have held firm in their positions. Dokubo remains defiant, insisting that his forces would emerge victorious in any confrontation with the national military.
Meanwhile, military officials have reaffirmed their readiness to protect the nation’s sovereignty against any threat. The public remains divided on the matter. Some view Dokubo’s comments as reckless and dangerous, while others believe his criticism exposes deeper flaws within the Nigerian military and government. With neither side willing to back down, the nation watches closely as tensions continue to rise.
