Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark has thrown his weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s order to the security agencies to fish out killers of the 17 soldiers in Delta state.
This is as Clark kicked against the invasion of his country home by the security agencies over the incident, saying it has gone beyond coincidence as it has become a source of concern.
Clark who came to the defence of the president on the order to fish out those behind the dastardly act, said the directive was not for the army alone but for the entire security agencies.
He said it was within the right and power of the president to give such an order to all the security agencies.
Seventeen soldiers from the troops of the 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army who were on a peaceful and mediatory mission after a reported communal clash between the Okuama and Okoloba Communities in Ughelli South and Bomadi LGAs of Delta State were ambushed and killed on 14th March 2024.
Clark who strongly condemned the act called for a speedy investigation of the issues leading to the killings, while also calling on the security agencies to arrest the criminals that carried out the barbaric act.
Clark who spoke in Abuja on Tuesday on the invasion of his country home in Kiagbodo, Delta State by the army said, the president did not only bark out the order to the army but the entire security agencies.
He said: “He was talking about security agencies, which include the police, DSS, Army, Air Force and the Army. As far as I am concerned, he did not single out the Army to fish out those who killed the soldiers. So I was terribly disappointed when I heard that the soldiers did not allow people to enter, even the police couldn’t enter the community.”
Clark said every other question surrounding who sent the soldiers should be set aside as the focus should be on fishing out the criminals behind the killings.
“Let’s forget about who sent them. Let us look for the people who committed this heinous crime. Once that is done, because some of us believe that a strong commission of inquiry should be set up by the governor of the state but in this particular matter, the governor of Delta State has gone in a month ago and this matter has been settled. So I believe something is wrong somewhere. Some other people may have been responsible because neither Okuama nor Okoloba has the wherewithal, the capacity, the courage and the right equipment to fight the army. Let us fish them out.”
On the action of the police and soldiers searching his home, the 97-year-old said the report that criminals were hiding in his house was a mere rumour, probably to implicate him.
He however said that the security agencies should have accorded him that respect by informing the state governor.
Clark who was a former National Commissioner said with his age and national standing, “If the police have information that I have someone in my house, they ought to have reported to the governor, they didn’t contact anyone.”
He however said he has forgiven the army after the apology by the General Commanding Officer, Port Harcourt Division but warned that such an act of disrespect should not be repeated as it is not the first time.
Narrating his story, Clark said: “At about 6 pm on Saturday, 23rd March 2024, I got a telephone call from someone who identified himself as the commanding officer of Nigerian Army, Division in Port Harcourt.
“He said that a tracker of the Nigerian Army, had tracked one Mr. Vote, the community chairman of Okuoma Community, whom the Army was looking for in respect of the killings of the 17 men of the Nigerian Army, to a house in Ughelli; and that the military men had broken into the house, ransacked it, before they were informed that the house belongs to me, that he was very sorry and apologising to me on behalf of the Army.
“In my usual way and as a leader who is expected to condone as much as possible, I accepted his apology wholeheartedly but told him that I do not own a house in Ughelli, that the house he is referring to, could be my father’s.
“I went on to sympathise with the Nigerian Army over the gruesome murder of the soldier, an action I had condemned severally the moment I heard of it in the news. I assured him that we would all work within our powers to avail the security agencies of any available information that would unravel the whole thing and bring the perpetrators to book. We ended the discussion on a cordial note.
“It was not long after that, I was inundated with calls from my home, Kiagbodo, telling me how the army had invaded my country home by land and by air. That they came in about 5 trucks loaded with armed soldiers numbering between 30 and 40. They my house, used their legs to break open all the doors in the compound including the security door to my sitting room which was locked because I reside in Abuja. At the same time, flying their drone within the premises. Some of them went to the buildings behind the main house and also broke all the doors that were locked.
“They matched out my staff living in those buildings, including lecturers at the university; made them sit on bare ground. They also broke into my late brother, Ambassador Akporode Blessing Clark’s house; a man who served this country internationally in various capacities, including as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; as both of us share the same premises. They brought out his son almost naked, as the young man was taking a bath when they stormed the house.
“All their phones were seized. The people had to identify themselves and told them whose house it was before they asked for my telephone number, which they said they would pass to their “oga”’, before they all departed. One would have expected that at this juncture, a call could have been put to the Governor of Delta State, to inform him of what happened.
“I immediately called back the commanding officer to tell him of the actions of his men. And he said he was aware, and that was why he called to apologise.
“Before continuing, let me play the devil’s advocate by stating that the army may not know that the house they went to in Kiagbodo is my country home.
“But I feel very uncomfortable to conclude this recent incident with such theory when I recall how men of the Tactical Squad of the Nigeria Police, attached to the Office of the Inspector General of Police, on 4th September 2018.
“Now, a few days ago, on Saturday 23rd March 2024, another set of state actors, this time the Army, invaded my country home, by land and air, breaking into my house that was securely locked.
“This has gone beyond coincidence and is giving me a source of concern.
“By God’s grace, I am one of the oldest men in this country today. On May 25, I will be 97 years old, God keeping me alive.
“I deserve to be respected, left to live in peace, safety and tranquillity.”
He also warned of dire consequences should he die as a result of the actions of state actors.
He added: “Having said that, I want to appreciate the enormous responsibility on the shoulders of the Nigerian Army, who are burdened with so much internal security issues. And it is for that reason I want to use this medium to kindly appeal to all concerned to work assiduously to unravel what happened and bring the perpetrators to book. The earlier this matter is concluded the better, as it will also avail the affected communities which are almost locked down today, without adequate food and water, the chance of returning to normal life.
“Again, I call on the various state actors to let me live in peace, and treat me with the kind of respect that I deserve, having served this country, and still serving even at the age of 97 years, until when it will please the Almighty God to call me home.”
