A fresh crisis is brewing between the Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State and the King of Elem-Kalabari, Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo, over alleged plans to invade Bille territory with his private militia, known as the “Amama soldiers.”
At a press conference held in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, the Bille Chiefs and Elders Council raised the alarm, accusing Dokubo of plotting to extend Kalabari territorial control through force. Spokesperson of the council, Alabo Boma Renner Dappa, claimed that suspected members of the Amama soldiers had already visited Bille and captured images of key strategic locations within the community.
Dappa described the alleged plan as part of a broader expansionist agenda, recalling that the Bille Kingdom had previously suffered a similar assault over two decades ago during Dokubo’s tenure as President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), which reportedly resulted in widespread destruction and loss of lives.
He disclosed that formal alerts have been sent to the Federal Government, Rivers State Government, the Department of State Services (DSS), as well as the media and international bodies, to prevent what the council fears may become another round of violence.
As of the time of this report, Asari Dokubo has yet to respond to the allegations.
