Popular Ijaw rights activist, Rev Dr. Sokari Soberekon has raised alarm over a failed attempt by some unknown persons to forcefully whisk him away from his residence at Marine Base in Port Harcourt.
The cleric, who was among the 16 eminent sons and daughters of Kalabari kingdom that were conferred with the prestigious Kalabari Icons Awards by celebrated Kalabari Times Magazine on Monday in Port Harcourt, said the incident happened around 7pm on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 just shortly after he rounded off a prayer session in his residence which also houses his church, Christ Jesus Link Gospel Ministry.
According to him, “They came with a Jeep and barged into my place; three rough-looking young men. One quick look at them and I knew they were cult-related elements.
“They brandished a paper and threw it on me. They said it’s a bench warrant from Magistrate Court 14, about a land matter”.
The 80-year-old man, who is popularly touted as ‘Emancipator of the Niger Delta’, further narrated how the boys held him on the shoulders and attempted to drag him into the waiting Jeep, but he resisted, adding, “Like Jesus, I humbly sat on the floor”.
He went on: “The Magistrate in charge of Court 14 is an honorable lady whom I know too well. She’s a woman of unflinching integrity and couldn’t have sent thugs to summon anyone to her court. Besides, I suspected them because land matters are not treated at the Magistrate Court but at the High Court.
“I may not be a lawyer but my late father who was a chief and worked at Degema Customary Court in the 50s, told me that land cases are handled only at High Court and not at Magistrate Court”, he stated.
“But, unfortunately they came for the wrong man! While I still sat on the floor, I preached the gospel to them and afterwards, gave them some money which they thankfully accepted and left”, he said.
The octogenarian and Senior Advocate of Niger Delta (SAND), said he believed that the motive behind the boys’ mission was to abduct him.
“As it stands, my life is in danger. I am therefore calling on the Rivers State Police Commissioner and the State Chief Judge, to come to my aid.
He vowed that he would resist any attempt to be dragged out of his house by criminals pretending to be sent by a Magistrate.
“The time has not come to be with my Father. I will like to meet Him in peace and at the right time according to Genesis 15:15.
“I do not want human beings to send me to my Father against His will”, he concluded.
