Nigerian Army Denies Having Pact With Asari Dokubo’s Security Outfit

The Nigerian Army has denied having a partnership with former Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo or his security outfit.

Dokubo during an interview on a podcast anchored by Channels Television’s Seun Okinbaloye claimed he had a military company engaged by the government to work alongside the military in some states of the federation.

Asari-Dokubo had said,  “I don’t have an army but I have a private military company that was engaged by the Nigerian government and I have been doing the work for the Nigerian state. Private military companies exist all over the world; we have Black Waters, we have Wagner; we have so many private military companies.

 “So, I have a private military company that is engaged by the government and we are fighting side by side with the Nigerian military in many places. Like Niger, Plateau, Abia, Imo, and parts of Rivers State. We were in Anambra too. We are doing a good job and we are being commended by the host communities.”

But reacting to the former militant leader’s claim, the Director, Army Public Relations Officer, Brig.  Gen.  Onyema Nwachukwu said the Army had never conducted any operation in collaboration with Asari-Dokubo’s men in any part of the country.

General Nwachukwu said, “Going by that interview, Dokubo claims he owns a private military company that was engaged by the government of Nigeria. The veracity of his claim can only be ascertained by the relevant agency, statutorily mandated to license such outfits.

“However, it must be clarified that the Nigerian Army is not in any form of partnership or collaborative pact with the ex-militant or whatever private security outfit he claims to own.

“It is also expedient to place on record that contrary to his claims, the Nigerian Army has never conducted any operation jointly or side by side with Asari or the organisation he represents, in any of those areas he mentioned or in any theatre of operations.”

In other news, Kanyi Daily reported that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Thursday, ordered its standby force to restore constitutional order in the Niger Republic.

ECOWAS President, Omar Alieu Touray stated this while reading the resolution of the regional bloc on the military coup during its meeting in Abuja.