The Niger Delta People’s Congress (NDPC) has condemned in strong terms the way and manner the Department of State Services (DSS) invaded the publishing house of Chief Jones Abiri in Yenagoa, describing it as the most unattractive style, reminiscent of President Muhammadu Buhari’s days as the Head of State during his first stint before he was overthrown.

“It took the press release of the DSS to allay our fears that Abiri was abducted by unknown gunmen. We urge the DSS to follow due process in carrying out its operations,” the group said in a statement issued by Comrade Ogidi Ben Bara aka OBB, National President of NDPC.

It described Jones Abiri as “a highly respected, renowned personality in the Ijaw community and a law abiding citizen,” saying: “As such, we find the press release of the DSS stating that it has arrested ‘the militant leader of the Joint Revolutionary Council and the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force’ disrespectful and wish to condemn such disparaging terms as the DSS is not a court duly established by law to impute or find any individual guilty of any crime.”

The group further declared that Jones Abiri is innocent until proven guilty, and as such, should be accorded the right to dignity of human person as contained in section 34 of the Constitution.

It said: “We are stating this with particular reference to the persecution of Azibaola Robert who was treated like a common criminal by the Buhari led administration but was later vindicated of any crime by a court of competent jurisdiction.

“We the Niger Delta People’s Congress wish to register our displeasure with the persecution being carried out by the Buhari led administration against sons, daughters, fathers, and mothers of the Niger Delta region. With the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers that has fast tracked the Nigerian economy into rescission, we urge the Federal Government to adopt a more productive dispute resolution method than intimidating and harassing sons and daughters of the region.

“The Federal Government cannot claim to be negotiating with militants and still be carrying out systematic arrest of people from the region. The persecution of the already traumatised people of the Niger Delta region is uncalled for.”

•Photo shows Chief Jones Abiri.

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