Indigenes of Udekama (Degema) community in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State have accused a local security outfit owned and regulated by a former militant leader, Alhaji Muhajid Asari Dokubo, ‘Amama Soldiers’, of land grabbing and other infractions in Kalabari, and Udekama communities.
Also, the community accused the private security group of masterminding and executing a soldier, identified as Ohusuo Esau, with service number, 13NA/70/3337, a personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), identified as Prayer Warmate, and a final year student of the University of Port Harcourt, Augustine Okubo.
The community noted that the killings occurred during the burial of the mother of the late soldier(Esau), on February 23, 2024.
The people spoke at a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, Port Harcourt.
The distraught community decried that despite reports on the attacks, no action had been taken either by the government or security agencies.
‘It is disheartening to report that even though the Udekama communities have been attacked several times with those incidents reported to the authorities and security agencies, no deterrent action, including arrests or investigation of the named assailants have been taken at any time.’ they said.
However, Dokubo described the allegations as unsubstantiated, saying that his security outfit is legitimate, and professional in its duties.
The spokesman of Udekama Council of Chiefs, High Chief Ohusuo Abraham-Francis, said their neighbouring Kalabari neighbours were encroaching into their ancestral lands, apparently using Asari Dokubo-led security outfit.
The ‘Amama Soldiers’ laid siege on Degema community on August 8, 2026, shooting indiscriminately and disrupting a community age-long Traditional Cleansing Festival, which marks a new year in the Degema cultural calendar.
‘This act of gross violation of the people’s rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion as guaranteed under Section 38 of the Constitution, 1999 (amended) even though the community informed the security agencies ahead of the event. This is another curious dimension to the genocidal actions of Dokubo packaged as acting in defence of his Kalabari people.’ the community stated.
Abraham-Francis further claimed that Dokubo and his security group were insisting on taking over the land on the ground of court judgments against Udekama community land; but said the community have since appealed the judgments and that the outcome is yet to be decided.
The people, however, denied any of the judgments vesting ownership of the Udekama land on any Kalabari community.
‘Less than a month after judgment was delivered by the State High Court in a civil suit between Usokun-Degema and Obama marked DHC/76/CS/2020 (HRH Chief Charles F. Sunday-Ugu VII and ORS v. Chief Samuel Kalada Harry and ORS on July 17, 2026, Asari Dokubo’s heavily armed ‘Amama Soldiers’ led Obama community to Usokun-Degema land on Sunday, August 16, 2026, about 4:00 in the evening, to commence construction.
‘Though the Usokun-Degema community reported this case of criminal trespass and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace on the same day about 5:34 in same evening at the Degema Divisional headquarters, neither have arrests been made nor invitation of the suspects made by the police,’ the statement read in part.
They lamented that Udekama communities were at the verge of extinction, if the activities of the security outfit continued unchecked.
The communities called on the President Bola Tinubu, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Special Adviser of Homeland Security, Maj.-Gen Adeyinka Famadewa, Minister of Defence, Gen Christopher Musa, Amnesty International and other non-governmental organisations to come to their rescue.
‘Furthermore, operating a mercenary contract with the Federal Government by a private security outfit, including Asari Dokubo’s occupational Army ‘Amama Soldiers’ is no grounds for unfettered derogation of the rights of other Nigerians to live peaceably in their natural abode.
‘The Federal Government pays Asari Dokubo’s ‘Amama Soldiers’ to rout Boko Haram, bandits and other groups, which are terrorising Nigerians.That brief does not extend to the liberty which Asari Dokubo enjoys to pursue his life-long crave to take over our ancestral domains.
‘His contract does not include clauses authorising him and his security outfit to import tons of arms and ammunition or trained battalions of militants that he has deployed to shoot at defenceless Degema citizens, including women and children, or ransack our communities.’ High Chief Abraham-Francis stated.
‘We, the aboriginal people of Udekama (Degema), in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State say no to the genocidal killings, unwarranted acts of aggression on our communities by Royal Fouche Security and deliberate misinterpretation of judicial pronouncements by Kalabari people,’ he stated.
In a statement by his Press Secretary, Alabo Daerefaa Braide, the ex-militant leader said: ‘We state categorically that the allegations, insinuations and descriptions contained in the said statement do not represent the position of the Amanyanabo of the Source, nor do they accurately portray the character, operations or mandate of Royal Fouche Security Services(Amama Soldiers).
‘The Amanyanabo of the Source disclaims and rejects the allegations portraying him as the sponsor or commander of an alleged ‘occupation army.’
‘Royal Fouche Security Services is a professional security organisation providing security services in various locations and should not be described as an armed ethnic militia without credible evidence or a competent authority’s finding,’ Braide added.