• Overzealous state actors may kindle raging fire, elder statesman warns
• AGF gets seven-day ultimatum to retract profiling of publisher as ‘terrorist financier’
• Rep Ambaiowei urges professionalism in search of killers at Igbomutoru
• Gumi opens up on invitation by security agencies

Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, yesterday, appreciated “the enormous responsibility on the shoulders of the Nigerian Army, who are burdened with so much internal security issues” but warned that if his death “is linked to any dubious means by some overzealous state actors, no one can tell how far the fire will rage”.

The 97-year-old Ijaw leader was responding to the alleged invasion, by soldiers, of his country home in Kiagbodo, and his father’s residence in Ughelli, both in Delta State.

He said the incident happened at about 6:00 p.m., on Saturday, March 23, 2024.Speaking during a press conference at his Abuja residence, Clark said the soldiers forcibly broke into the two buildings allegedly in search of fleeing perpetrators of the Okuama killings, which claimed the lives of more than a dozen senior and junior military personnel recently.

He claimed that both buildings were heavily damaged. Narrating the incident, Clark said: “They came in about five trucks loaded with armed soldiers numbering between 30 and 40. They broke 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 marched out my staff living in those buildings, including lecturers at the university; made them to 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. 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 tell 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.”

Following the incident, Clark said: “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. However, 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 September 4, 2018, at about 12.00 p.m., stormed my house in Abuja in a bus load, fully armed.”

Clark, nevertheless, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu “for his efforts in combating the ravaging security issues in the land.” He also urged Nigerians to “give him the necessary cooperation”, stressing: “This is the only country that we have.”

He added: “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.”

RELATEDLY, House of Representatives member for the Southern Ijaw federal constituency, Rodney Ambaiowei, called on soldiers searching for the killers of their colleagues in Okuama to exercise restraint, and prevent the killing and maiming of innocent persons in neighbouring Igbomutoru.

Speaking to reporters at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, he said it was unfortunate that the peace-loving citizens of Igbomutoru community were at the receiving end of the unfortunate incident in Okuama.

He explained: “I say this, bearing in mind the invasion and carnage that took place in Odi, in November 1999, following the killing of some soldiers and policemen, which remains fresh in our memories. Caution and professionalism must be the watchword to forestall unpleasant and regrettable consequences in the approach to bringing the culprits to book. ”

THIS came as the publisher of the Kaduna-based Desert Herald Newspaper, Tukur Mamu, wrote the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), demanding the retraction of his profile as a terrorist financier. The demand was contained in a letter, dated March 25, 2024, written on his behalf by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, J.J. Usman.

The letter gave a seven-day ultimatum to the AGF for the retraction, failing which legal proceedings would follow. It reads in part: “We are counsel to Tukur Mohammed Mamu (hereinafter referred to as our client), whose firm and absolute instructions we relate to you on the above subject matter.

“Recall that our client was arraigned by the Federal Government of Nigeria, particularly before the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, in FHC/ABJ/CR/96/2023, between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Tukur Mamu.

“In furtherance to this, it is remarkable to note that your office is currently prosecuting our client on allegations concerning terrorism. It is lamentable to observe that on March 19, 2024, while the case against our client is still pending, the social media was saturated by a publication allegedly emanating from and authorised by your good offices.

“However, the said publication was specifically made by the ‘Nigerian Sanctions Committee’, wherein our client was profiled and designated as a “terrorist financier”. As at the time of this missive, no court of competent jurisdiction in Nigeria has designated our client as such.

“It is common knowledge that the administration of the criminal justice system in Nigeria is not only antithetic to, but forbids media trials in whatever guise.

“We vehemently condemn the actions of the Nigerian Sanctions Committee, the same being a violation of the rule of natural justice and prejudicial to our client, who is undergoing trial and whose trial is still pending.

“On the basis of the aforesaid, we demand, in very clear and unequivocal terms, the immediate retraction of the said publication within seven days from the receipt of this letter, dated March 25, 2024.

“Upon failure to comply with our client’s demand, we will have no hesitation in seeking redress in the court of law for the ventilation of our client’s grievances.”

MEANWHILE, Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, yesterday, confirmed his interaction with security agencies via a social media post. Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, had, following Monday’s Federal Executive Council meeting, declared: “Government will not stop at anything to get the kind of information that will solve our problem. The security agencies are up and doing. Gumi and any other individual for that matter are not above the law…Nobody is above the law, and I am aware that he has also been a guest of security agencies to answer questions.”

In the post, titled, ‘Only one person is above the law: The Innocent!’ Gumi said: “Last night, I got many frantic calls from well-wishers and journalists about a news item, that I was interviewed by security (agencies). There is absolutely no cause for alarm.

“Yes, we had a productive interaction on how to curb banditry as we are all trying – each in his own sphere – to tackle the monster bedevilling the nation. There was no animosity but courtesy and full of respect.

“We all need, as a nation, to unite and work in synergy to achieve an everlasting peace. I thank you for your concern. May Allah continue to protect us all from all evil. Amin.”