Private Arms Stockpiling in Niger Delta Poses Dire Threat to Security – Chief Ariyo Robinson
In a swift reaction to allegations of character defamation leveled against Chief Robinson Ariyo, the Warri-based lawyer and human rights activist has described the publication by the Peace Development Security and Humanitarian Rights Association in the Independent Newspaper of December 27, 2024, as “diversionary, dishonest, and deceitful.”
The Peace Development Security and Humanitarian Rights Association had, in the said publication titled “Allegation Against Tompolo: Niger Delta Group Cautions Ariyo Against Defamation of Character,” insisted that the allegations of stockpiling small, medium, and heavy firearms leveled by Chief Ariyo against Government Ekpemupolo (also known as Tompolo) and his Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) were defamatory.
Led by its President, Comrade Mike JK Tiemo, the Peace Development Security and Humanitarian Rights Association described the said allegations as “spurious accusations against Tompolo; baseless and malicious propaganda.”
Chief Ariyo Robinson, in his reaction, said, “The standard redress for a defamatory publication should be sufficiently known to the Peace Development Security and Humanitarian Rights Association, Government Ekpemupolo (also known as Tompolo), and his Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL). Rejoinders on the pages of newspapers and attempting to gag journalists is not the path to it at all; going back and forth on this issue does not help the truth. Even though I only acted as a Solicitor to the community representatives who protested the anomaly of stockpiling of arms in the region by those accused of doing so, I find that it is a fact supported by credible and verifiable evidence. Despite the Development Security and Humanitarian Rights Association being an unregistered and relatively unknown body, I have elected to react as swiftly as I have done because I have a predilection for not leaving an error in public space unrefuted so as not to encourage intellectual immorality, as Karl Marx would say.”
Chief Ariyo addressed the Warri Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists on December 26, 2024, urging members not to be gagged by threats of defamation suits from any person or group of persons, provided they can obtain proper indemnity agreements from potential clients regarding their intended publications.
During the press meeting, Chief Ariyo described the Press as “the fourth estate whose jurisdiction extends beyond just reporting news in their explicit capacity, but also to wielding influence in the socio-political space and, most importantly, serving as the last hope of the common man.”
He lamented, “The common man today in the Niger-Delta lives in fear and cannot travel to his home for fear of being captured. We recently witnessed the massacre of no fewer than 18 Nigerian soldiers on a mission to halt clashes between two communities in the southern state of Delta. In a similar fashion, it is on record that most Itsekiri villages and towns were sacked to force the Delta State Government to succumb to the pressure of maintaining Ogbe-Ijoh as the headquarters of Warri South-West Local Government Area against the legally legislated headquarters at Ogidigben. The names of the sacked towns and communities are being illegally changed. I have obtained sufficient credible and verifiable evidence from my clients to effectively and efficaciously substantiate the allegations of stockpiling arms and the allied ills complained of by my clients. I would advise those resorting to the hypocritical defense of the obvious to seek redress in court; that is the civilized forum to explore in these circumstances if they are convinced of their case.”
He argued further, “To talk about peace where there has been perennial armed communal crisis with one side yet maintaining and building upon its own stock of arms, while the other side obeys the law of the land which prohibits possession of firearms, is to advocate graveyard peace—a peace that is a product of the law-abiding side having no option but to live in fear of attack while the side stockpiling arms continues to boast of imminent attacks if its demands are not met.”
Chief Ariyo urged the press community to conduct investigative reportage of the subject matter as he also urged the security community to live up to its expectations. “We cannot have two Sovereign Governments in the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he concluded.
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