A coalition of Southeast Democracy, Human Rights, Security and Safety Civil Societies (CSOs) under the aegis of the Coalition for the Defense of Southeast Citizens and Properties, has tasked the Federal Government to set up a panel of inquiry to investigate the actual activities and level of involvement of Royal Switch Services (a private militia company) in the Southeast; with a view to identifying and determining cost of lives and properties lost.
The Royal Switch Services is private security company owned by Asari Dokubo.
The coalition, an amalgam of over 40 advocacy organizations, both in and outside Nigeria, stated there is need to investigate and confirm who engaged Asari Dokubo, why and for what purposes?
Based on the comment of the Nigerian Army distancing themselves from Asari’s claim in recent times, the CSOs demanded that the panel be set up to “undercover the extent of damage and causalities of Asari’s private army’s operation in the Southeast”.
“Finally, if found culpable, we demand that Asari be made to face the full wrath of the law.
“We strongly believe that this would be the journey towards genuine healing, reconciliation and rehabilitation of those that have lost person(s), properties and means of livelihood as a result of Asari’s engagement in the Southeast” the group stated.
The coalition requested the President Bola Tinubu’s led administration to “make categorical statement on the false flag operations in the Southeast, which is intended to put the region in chaos; as we have now resolved to explore all measures within the frame of the law to put a stop to it”.
The demands of the coalition of CSOs were contained in a letter dated October 12, and addressed to Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser; Lt. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff; Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun Inspector General of Police
Force; Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior; and Chief Lateef Fagbemi SAN, Minister of Justice & Attorney General of the Federation.
The letter, sighted by our Correspondent on Saturday, was endorsed on behalf of the Southeast Coalition of CSOs by Okoro Chinedum Benedict (OCHIE Igbo) and
Emeka Umeagbalasi (Intersociety).
“We write to request the Federal Government to constitute a Panel of Inquiry into Asari Dokubo’s Royal Switch Services (private military company), which he claims has the express imprimatur of the Presidency and was officially engaged by the Federal Government for covert operations in the Southeast; specifically in Abia, Anambra, Imo, Enugu and Ebonyi States” the group stated.
The coalition submitted that Asari Dokubo’s Royal Switch Services does not have the approval to operate under the Private Guard Companies Act of 1986 and the Private Guard Companies Regulations of 2018, wherein Section 1, states the mode of licensing and operation for Private Guard Companies.
“Similarly, Sections 35 and 36, designate the Minister of Interior or an officer authorized by him, to act as the licensing authority to any such company, the group posited.
More so, the CSOs stated that Asari’s Royal Switch Company has no Presidential approval to operate in Nigeria, insisting that the militia company going by extant laws of the Federal Government never met the constitutional conditions and approvals.
“Therefore, it is an illegal gun running outfit designed for the execution of the people of the Southeast.
“Indecently, in a viral video taken from one of his numerous loquacious media appearances, Asari was specific that his men had carried out security and combatant duties naturally reserved for the Nigerian military in the Southeast.
“We have diligently carried out extensive investigations on some of his outbursts, wherein he verily boasted of how he killed citizens of the Southeast during his illegal operations in the region.
“Contemptibly, his comments were similar to the wild excitement often exhibited by wanton boys (in high tones and under some influence) when advertising their destructive and destabilizing tendencies.
“Impudently, whilst boasting of his exploits and conquests, Asari employed quite derogatory, demeaning and incendiary remarks in describing the people of the Southeast and bragged about how he killed them during his illegal engagement in the Southeast” the CSOs said.
The coalition frowned at the way and manner, President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian army have hurriedly distanced themselves from Asari Dokubo, without making it a point of duty to apprehend him and make him face the law.
“We recount with pains the reckless and inchoate utterances of Asari each time he talks about Ndigbo. We dare to say that Asari must be made to face the law” the coalition demanded.
The letter was also copied to President and Commander-in-Chief, Nigerian Armed Forces; National Council of State;
Directorate of Military Intelligence;
Director General, State Security Services;
Director General, National Intelligence Agency; Minister of Defense; The American Embassy, Abuja; The British Embassy, Abuja; The European Union Commission, Abuja; and the United Nations Office, Abuja.
