The people of Kula, a coastal community in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State on Wednesday protested the release of an ex-militant simply identified as Mr. Kenneth Dan.
The unrepentant militant who has the backing of one Mr. Hope Dan was arrested at the weekend, following series of petitions written against him by respected indigenes of Kula and some highly placed individuals in the society.
Kenneth Dan was arrested at Camp 5 in the Kula territory by soldiers who raided the area at the weekend.
Information had it that during the operations, the soldiers recovered some dangerous ammunition.
The protesters numbering over two hundred persons who matched on the streets of Port Harcourt were carrying placards with different inscriptions such as: “Kenneth Dan is an unrepentant militant”, Federal Government, please save our us from the hands of Kenneth Dan and Hope Dan, “Kenneth, you are not the owner of Kula” and several others.
The community blamed the release of Mr. Kenneth Dan on some politicians in area, describing their attitude as “useless and calculated attempt to cause crisis in Kula Kingdom”, “We don’t know the reason why such dangerous man should be released release.
Kenneth is not a good man, he is wicked. And he is not fit to walk on the streets of Port Harcourt, Prince Igbanibo said.
Speaking at the occasion, the Concerned Citizens of Kula community who spoke through their leader, Comrade Glad Ibigoni applauded the military of carrying out the operations, describing it as a job well down. The Concerned Citizens noted that Opukula in recent time has become a safe haven for cultists and rapists.
Comrade Ibigoni pleaded with the soldiers to ignore every announcement and publication against their operations, saying such action should not deter their efforts to sanitize the Kula territories especially the Ekulama I, Ekulama II, Robort Kiri, Camp 5, Sand sand, Opukiri, Krikakiri and several other settlements.
According to the Concerned Citizens of Kula the military’s action has given a big relief and hope to the people. They further appealed to the security agents to continue their search in the area in order to get rid of the criminal activities perpetuated by the unrepentant militant, Kenneth Dan.
“The reason why we want the military to come back to continue their search is that those who narrowly escaped during the raid are now back, regrouping again.
These are the people causing disturbances, sea piracy, kidnapping, bunkering, oil pipeline vandalization, raping and other cult related activities, Comrade Ibigoni alleged.
Comrade Ibigoni accused Kenneth Dan of keeping a special gunboat at “freetown” one of the settlements in the area to carry out his heinous crimes.
The Concerned Citizens wondered that Kenneth Dan after embracing amnesty, is still operating different militant camps along the waterways and creeks in Kula territories.
“Kenneth Dan is a very wicked man. On several occasions he has been arrested for murder cases. We want the military to investigate him, because he is a killer”, the Concerned Citizens alleged.
They however, condemned a press statement that the military during the operations destroyed the flags of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The Concerned Citizens of Kula community asked: The militant camp where Kenneth Dan was arrested is it a PDP secretariat? People should stop telling lies. Kula community needs peace. ###
