Rivers kingdom, Asari Dokubo disagree over alleged planned invasion

A dispute has arisen between the Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State and King Asari Dokubo, the King of Elem-Kalabari, over allegations of a planned invasion of the area by the former and his alleged foot soldiers, known as the “Amama soldiers.”

The Bille Chiefs and Elders Council stated at a press conference in Port Harcourt yesterday that they are alarmed, claiming that Asari Dokubo intends to invade their community using his Amama soldiers.

According to Alabo Boma Renner Dappa, the spokesperson for the Chiefs and Elders Council, men believed to be members of the Amama Soldiers have already visited their region and taken photographs of strategic locations.

Renner alleged that Asari Dokubo’s plan is part of an expansionist effort to claim more territory for Kalabari, noting that the council has alerted the Nigerian Government, the Rivers State Government, the Department of State Services (DSS), the media, and the international community about the alleged planned invasion.

He recalled that over 25 years ago, when Dokubo was President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), the kingdom suffered significant losses due to violent attacks linked to similar circumstances. He stressed that the episode left a painful scar on the collective memory, with many lives lost and property destroyed.

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To support his point, Renner alleged that armed individuals operating in gunboats were observed patrolling Bille communities on 8th and 9th January 2025, carrying out unauthorised surveillance and displaying intimidating behaviour. He added that on 12th July 2025, Alhaji Dokubo’s Amama Soldiers allegedly invaded Dabira community, threatening residents with imminent violence and ordering them to vacate their homes.

He said: “Credible information available to us strongly indicates that Alhaji Asari Dokubo has concluded plans to launch a full-scale attack on several Bille communities, in the coming days, with the objective of sacking indigenous people from their ancestral lands to enable forceful territorial expansion.

“To this end, we have it on good record that HRH Asari Dokubo and his Amama group have been unlawfully recruiting many young people and gathering lethal weapons. We painfully recall again that the now HRH Asari Dokubo was the leader of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), and made similar unlawful recruitment and indeed, used the IYC to violently attack the Bille Kingdom about 25 years ago, crises that claimed many lives.”

He called on the DSS and police to launch an investigation into the matter, adding that the people of Bille would resist any effort to conquer their area.

He said the community has written to the local government leader and the DPO in the area, as well as to the state government, regarding the planned attack, but has received no response.

However, Dokubo, in a quick response via a Facebook Live video from China, stated that the claims made by the Bille people were unfounded, adding that since he became the King of his area, the Bille people have initiated frivolous attacks against his personality.

Dokubo accused the Bille people of sponsoring oil bunkering in their area, further stating that they even harbour kidnappers.

He said, “Immediately I became Amanyanabo, the Bille people started to attack and to make frivolous claims.

“Everybody knows that Bille is the centre of criminality, the security people know about it. Bille is the headquarters of bunkering.

“Nobody is quarrelling or wants Bille to be Kalabari. I will be the last person to want Bille to be Kalabari. I always say these things, my mouth is no good. As my mouth dey sharp na so my hand dey sharp. Na so my head dey sharp.

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“Bille, even my grandfather’s town, Obonomo, has more people, more population than Bille. Because the Kalabari people are nonchalant, and there is one Kalabari man, Asari Dokubo, who will not agree to their evil plans and the evil plot they are committing, including kidnapping, bunkering, and all manner of crimes.

“Bille people are in court with Kula people, they are in court with Krakaama, claiming Elem Krakaama. Bille is in court with Ke. They believe that because they are rascally… I always say, are there no elders in Bille? Who calls to restrain and reel in their youth? But no, every time Bille’s people make problems. The day one community in Kalabari will stand up, Bille will be no more. That is the truth of the matter, but it is because Kalabari people don’t care.”