Leave Rivers Out Of Your Protests, Ateke Tom Warns IPOB, MASSOB

Former Niger Delta militant leader, Chief Tom Ateke, has warned pro-Biafra agitators to steer clear of Rivers State. The founder of the defunct ethnic Ijaw militia group, Niger Delta Vigilante, NDV, said it was worrisome that the Biafra agitators were using Rivers, which he described as a peaceful state, in their protests. Mr. Ateke gave the warning on the heels of reports that he was backing the pro-Biafra agitators in their move for secession. He, however, maintained that the issue of Biafra was national and has nothing to do with him, a Niger Deltan. He, therefore, cautioned people to desist from using his name and pictures unnecessarily in the protest. Ateke said there is general insecurity and the problem (insecurity) should not be restricted to Rivers State alone. He also disclosed that he has had cause on several occasions to arrest and hand over criminals and kidnappers over to the police. The former militant leader spoke through his media aide, Mr. Ifeanyi Ogbonna on Saturday. “Biafra agitators should leave Rivers State alone. I am a law abiding citizen of the Federal Republic of this great country Nigeria. I have always prayed for peace in the country. So people should stop using my name and pictures for business gains. “Governor Nyesom Wike is God fearing and peace loving man and he has the interest of the people at heart. I advice the local government authorities to work with the governor in order to rid our communities of crime. “The whole country is not stable now. The security situation even in other states is very bad and so if you check it you will see that our state, Rivers State, is very peaceful for now. The state is peaceful so people should stop using the state as head line news to fight for political gains”.