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…Accuses Asari Dokubo of hate speech
From Tony John, Port Harcourt
The Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo Rivers State chapter condemned Asari Dokubo’s outburst against the Igbo people living in the state directly accusing of attacking and destroying goods of Muslims at the weekend.
President of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo Worldwide Rivers State chapter, Livingstone Wechie, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday, condemned Dokubo’s inflammatory statement, stressing that Igbo people are not planning war or fighting with Muslim community.
Wechie stated: “There is a venomous and inciting video trending online by an ex-agitator Alhaji Asari Dokubo, accusing Igbos of attacking northern Muslims and planning to turn Rivers State into a battle ground.
“This according to him is pursuant to the “pandemonium” that occurred last Saturday 14th February, 2026, at about 7:00 a.m. at the Fruit Market, Oil Mill, Rumuokwurusi, Port Harcourt, following the gruesome killing of a man identified as Higightor Wenem ‘m’ aged 30 years, from Mbagel Village, Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State by a wheelbarrow pusher identified as Zakara Afaaruwu ‘m’.
“This reaction is made for the sole purpose of guiding the gullible public to nullify Chief Asari’s misleading and malicious statements in the trending video against Ndi-Igbo.
“With profound respect to our beloved Chief Asari Dokubo, Ndi-Igbo are not anarchists neither are they destroyers as he falsely portrays them. There is a massive thriving population of Ndi-Igbo in northern Nigeria and they are doubtlessly the highest population in Rivers State.
“Ndi-Igbo are not insensitive to religious rights of individuals and groups irrespective of their ethnicity or race. Most importantly, there are both Christian and Muslim Igbos alike and this is very important to state.”
Wechie emphasized that Igbo people were not involved in the unfortunate killing that occurred, and faulted the traditional ruler’s allegations.
He declared: “For the records, there is no evidence that Igbos were involved in the unfortunate incident at the Oil Mill Market neither were there reports or proofs of destruction of Mosques contrary to the charges by Asari Dokubo.
“The Nigeria Police Force Rivers State Command issued a statement on the matter which faults everything Alhaji Asari Dokubo said.
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The president quoted the police thus: “It (Police Command) states that: “The incident led to tension and pandemonium between members of the Hausa and Benue communities in the area. However, prompt intervention by police operatives restored calm and prevented further breakdown of law and order.
“The suspect has been arrested and is currently in police custody while investigation continues.
“The situation is now under control, and monitoring of the area is ongoing. Further developments will be communicated,” Wechie cited.
He noted that it was the State Police Command that supplied the particulars of both the victim and the alleged killer, adding that the ex-agitator should be called to order.
“While it is demanded that Alhaji Asari Dokubo should be called to order in this unwholesome frolic,
I urge the general public and all relevant institutions to completely discountenance the emotional outburst and combustible propositions reeled by Alhaji Asari Dokubo as being unfounded and only aimed at pitching Ndi-Igbo against their neighbours for no reason.
“We, therefore, advise Chief Asari Dokubo to desist from falsely framing Ndi-Igbo and branding them enemies when, in deed, they are the most treasured allys anyone can have.
“May I state that Alhaji Asari Dokubo is our brother here in Rivers State who has consistently acknowledged that he too is an Igbo man. It is important to note that we bear no grudges against him as a person, but insist that to his knowledge, Igbos are way too prominent and sophisticated to be used for such disdainful adventure driven by him.”
Wechie declared that, as the leader of Igbo people in Rivers State, he has the responsibility to speak up, “defend and protect not just my people (Igbos), but to protect all people of goodwill.
“If any individual Igbo person is found culpable of any crime, such an individual should be dealt with in his personal capacity. We reject any attempt to criminalize Ndi-Igbo including putting them in harmsway.”
He charged all Igbo people in the state to go about their lawful businesses and remain law-abiding even in the face of provocation, assuring them of their safety no matter the area of the state they live.
He thanked the state Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the government and the Police Command for their timeous intervention to arrest the situation.
