CALL FOR INTERVENTION IN DEGEMA

•••A cry for Justice as indigenes battle oppression on the Sombreiro River

The Degema Kingdom Development Forum has been apprised of the recent egregious actions undertaken by the Royal Fouche Security outfit, also known as the Amama soldiers. On Thursday, 21st of March, 2024, they rode on speedboats across the length and breadth of Sombrero River brandishing firearms (specifically AK 47s), identifying, intercepting, and sending back all Degema indigenous fishermen/women, as well as any Degema indigenes engaging in various economic activities in the River for their daily sustenance. They issued a vivid warning to cease engaging in any economic activities in or through the Sombrero River, which has been the customary source of economic livelihood for the indigenous people of Degema.

It is worth noting that barely a month ago, on the 23rd of February 2024 precisely, this same security outfit ambushed and attacked unarmed Degema indigenes who were returning from the mortuary with a corpse for burial. Men, women, and children were wounded, and many were killed (approximately 8 persons), with their bodies being carted away to conceal the evidence. The body that was recovered is presently at the Degema mortuary with the expectation that the police will conduct the investigation as publicly promised.

The esteemed leadership of this platform, represented by the Degema Council of Chiefs, urgently beseeches His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State, security agencies, and the esteemed leadership and elites of the Kalabari Kingdom to intervene and rein in Asari Dokubo and his security outfit from carrying out their threats. The Degema people will not sit idly by and watch their natural sources of livelihood be severed in an attempt to annihilate them by the Royal Fouche Security outfit.

It is crucial to underscore that the people of Degema are neither timid nor capable of being cowed into submission. We are a community guided by principles of peace and harmony and vehemently opposed to any further bloodshed on our sacred land, Degema.

Next time don't vote for an Ijaw man as your governor. I hope Delta State is listening. Let them go to Bayelsa to rule.