Sola Adebayo
The Delta State Security Council rose from a crucial meeting in Asaba on Thursday with a resolution to arrest a prominent leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta over Monday's bomb blasts in Warri, Delta State.
Leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, Henry Okah.
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A source at the meeting who made this known did not give the name of the MEND leader. However, our correspondent noted through his description that Mr. Henry Okah was the ex-militant chief in question.
The source told our correspondent that security agencies had collated some intelligence reports on his alleged involvement in the blasts, which aborted a conference on amnesty in the oil-rich city.
According to him, the report showed that the MEND leader was sighted in Warri on the day of the incident, ostensibly to supervise the operation.
The source said, "We have a report that an internationally acclaimed MEND leader (name withheld) was in Warri in the early hours of Monday, apparently, to supervise and ensure the success of the bomb attacks.
"The security council rose from the meeting with a resolution to further dig into the intelligence report which indicted the MEND leader in order to arrest him .
"Since his group has claimed responsibility for the action, he (MEND leader) has to explain his business in Warri shortly before the bomb blasts."
But one of Okah's lawyers, Mr. Wilson Ajuwa, denied that the MEND leader was in Warri on Monday.
He told our correspondent on the telephone that Okah was in South Africa where he had been attending to his health since last year.
He said, "I can tell you, as one of his lawyers, that he has been in South Africa since last year after meeting with the President (Yar'Adua).
"So, to the best of my knowledge, he couldn't have been in Nigeria on Monday, let alone be in Warri. They (security agencies) should 'rearrange' their intelligence.
"Their claim is therefore far from the mark. He is still taking care of his health in South Africa."
The MEND leader is one of the militants who recently benefited from an amnesty granted them by ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua.
His involvement in the blasts is said to have dominated discussions at the Asaba meeting of the security council.
The council comprises heads of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Service in the state.
The state Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN), and the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Ifeanyi Okonwa, were among the top government officials that were also in attendance at the meeting.
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan presided over the meeting, which was shifted from its normal venue in Warri to Asaba, due to security reasons.
Though the deliberations and resolutions of the meeting were not made public, the Commissioner, Delta State Police Command, Mr. Yakubu Alkali, confirmed the meeting but said it was not unusual.
He said, "The Delta State Security Council met in Asaba on Wednesday but it was a usual security council meeting of the state, which usually holds on Wednesdays. Naturally, the issue of Monday's bomb blasts in Warri was discussed, but the meeting was not convened primarily because of the Monday's incident.
"But since the issue (Warri bomb blasts) borders on the security of the state, it was discussed at the meeting. I don't want to speak further on the matter; as you know, security matters are not discussed on the pages of newspapers."
Meanwhile, ex-militant leaders in the Niger Delta will meet on Sunday to deliberate on the recent security breaches in the region, especially Monday's bomb blasts.
It was learnt that the meeting was at the instance of Chief Government Ekpemukpolo (alias Tompolo) and the Secretary of the Federal Government Committee on Peace and Conflict Resolution in the Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku.
Alkhali, in a telephone interview with our correspondent, said that they deliberated on Monday's bomb blasts among other security issues in the state.
He, however, refused to comment on the details of the deliberations at the meeting and their outcomes.
The meeting is expected to hold at a coastal community in either Delta State or Ondo State.
It was learnt that the ex-militant leaders might also deliberate on the state of the nation and the implementation of the post-amnesty programme by the Federal Government.
A source close to Ekpomupolo said, "Former leaders of the freedom fighters in the Niger Delta are meeting on Sunday to review the security situation in the Niger Delta, particularly the Monday bomb explosions in Warri.
"The meeting will also deliberate on the post-amnesty programme, especially the fate of the ex-militant commanders in the plans of the Federal Government and the March 28 encampment of their lieutenants by the Presidential Sub-Committee on Disarmament, Rehabilitation and Re-integration of the former militants in the Niger Delta, headed by the former Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Godwin Abbe (rtd.).
"But a decision has not been taken on the venue of the meeting, it will either take place at our leader's (Tompolo) place in Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West LGA, or the place of our representative in the presidential sub-committee on disarmament (Kuku) in Arogbo-Ijaw, Ese-Odo LGA of Ondo State."
When contacted on Wednesday, Kuku confirmed the meeting but declined further comments.
