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Ex MEND Commander Writes Buhari Over Threat To Life

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M BUHARI

THREAT TO MY LIFE AND MOVES BY THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE 19TH BATTALION, NIGERIAN ARMY(OKITIPUPA BARRACKS), BUSINESSMEN AND POLITICIANS TO IMPLICATE ME OVER THE CONDEMNABLE BOMBING OF NNPC PIPELINES IN DELTA STATE

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari

 

Dear Mr President Sir,

I wish to bring to your notice, some unsavoury situations as regards the peace and security of Arogbo Ijaw Kingdom in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
For purposes of putting the records straight, I am High Chief Bibopere Ajube, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Gallery Security Services Limited. The outfit has been engaged in providing security in the riverine area of Ondo State since 2012. I am to add that this assignment has been in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in conjunction with the Ondo State Government. Put simply, the provision of security by Gallery Security Services Limited in the riverine areas of Ondo State has been a Public Private Partnership arrangement.

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May I also use this medium to remind Mr President that prior to the declaration of Amnesty by the Federal Government and subsequent acceptance of same, I used the name “General Shoot At Sight’’ as an appellation. I am however delighted to say that the post amnesty era has afforded me the opportunity to have a stronger faith and belief in peace and development. Not only has the period brought about a new beginning in the lives of those with whom I share a common belief in the sustenance of peace and security, the post amnesty period has indeed, provided a clear window of opportunity for some of us to engage in community development in our respective areas.

HARASSMENT BY THE NIGERIAN ARMY.
It is with a deep sense of responsibility and concern that I bring to Mr President’s notice the suspicious and curious activities of one Lt. Col G A Suru, the Commanding Officer of 19th Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Okitipupa. I wish to state that upon his posting to his new assignment, I made efforts to have audience with Col Suru in respect of the services provided by my company, Gallery Security Services Limited. It is worthy of note that the move to have audience with the Commanding Officer was to brief him of our activities in the riverine area. This is more so that some soldiers under his command are part of our operations in the provision of security in the coastal areas of Ondo State.
However, the Commanding Officer reportedly deployed a detachment of soldiers to one of my companies in a curious manner that drew the attention of the workers. My attempts at further enquiries from the Commanding Officer were even revealing of more suspicious moves which I considered preposterous and puerile. All the same, I left my town, Bolowou as reports indicated that Col. Suru was already on his way to meet with me at Arogbo. I was nonetheless, taken aback when the Commanding Officer pointedly asked me to lead the operation that will produce High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo). I must say that such was a misplaced demand as the Army knows better wherever to get whoever it wanted. That ended our meeting and I left for my hometown, Bolowou. But I later got to know that the Commanding Officer was instructed to take me away by whatever means on the grounds that I was being suspected as the brain behind the bombing of oil pipelines in Delta State. This is outrageous and preposterous as I know nothing about such act. In my place, the Operations Manager of Bradama International Skills Works Limited, Mr Ebi Molos was taken away by the Commanding Officer. His whereabouts have remained unknown till now.

On the strength of this spurious suspicion against me, I decided to withdraw all operatives of Gallery Security Services Limited. The reason for this action was borne out of frustration as such insinuations despite my peace efforts in the riverine area was not only unfortunate but wicked. Suffice it to say that I have committed about N270 million (Two Hundred and Seventy Million Naira) for the past four years on the welfare of soldiers officially posted to Gallery Security outposts. However, I have since instructed the return of operatives of the outfit upon the intervention of the Brigade Commander, 4th Mechanized Brigade, Benin City, Brigadier General Farouk Yahaya who pleaded with me not to leave the area porous.  For record purposes, my passion to provide security after accepting the amnesty offer is not strange to all security agencies as I have assisted in many ways, to apprehend criminals engaged either in illegal oil bunkering or piracy. Security agencies are also aware of the losses I have suffered in terms of human and material resources. Specifically in August, 2014, I lost four operatives of Gallery Security Services Limited to pirates operating in the coastal areas of Ondo State. Also last year, pipeline vandals and pirates attacked my men, killing two in the process.

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THE CURIOUS ATTACK ON MY PERSON BY POLITICIANS
In a manner apparently disheartening, I have watched with keen interest certain disgusting utterances coming from politicians after my attempted abduction by the Army Commanding Officer. While I refrain deliberately, from joining issues with them, I am tempted to conclude that perhaps, the ill-fated attempt to abduct me may have been the foundation for such statements. For the records, the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State in a somewhat misleading statement, insinuated that I had escaped from arrest. This is understandable because some leading lights in the party are doing this in view of some defeated political expectations. For such, I urge them to face their destiny. Also, another chieftain of the APC in Bayelsa State, Mr Africanus Ukparaisa (A k a General Africa) made a similar statement to the extent that he alleged me of training militants. To say the least, this is unfortunate. It shows the extent to which politicians can go with little inducement. I leave his allegations for security agencies to investigate. But for the records, the said Akanapu Camp is one of the twelve security out posts of Gallery Security Services Limited that houses both soldiers and civilian operatives of my security outfit. It is on record that in November last year, the current Brigade Commander of 323 Artillery Brigade, Akure, like his predecessors, including previous ones from the 19th Battalion, also undertook a tour of all these security outposts. Perhaps, Ukparaisa who styles himself General Africa up till now, might be helpful in locating and identifying the said camp where militants are being trained.

I AM READY TO HONOUR ANY PROPER INVITATION
As a law-abiding citizen, I am prepared to make myself available upon any invitation from the nation’s security agencies. However, the process of such are known and unambiguous; as such, any process as concocted by the Commanding Officer that has been politically amplified can only be suspicious. At best, this is capable of creating needless tension. It can therefore be taken for granted that should any need arises for me to have audience with security agencies for whatever reason, I shall make myself available as long as I have nothing to hide.

I thank Mr. President for a quick intervention and please accept the assurances of my highest regards Sir.

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MR TONY ONYEISUE
SENIOR EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
For: High Chief Bibopere Ajube

 

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