Emma Amaize
6 September 2008
interview
It was nothing but shock and unbelief, August 23, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos when a member of the Presidential Peace Committee on the Niger-Delta crisis and the Federated Niger-Delta Ijaw Communities (FNDIC), Chief Bello Oboko, who, was among 22 officials of the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN) that went to the United States of America for a course on non-violence and peace, bankrolled by the American oil giant, the Chevron-Texaco Nigeria Limited was extradited back to Nigeria by American security agents.
Twenty-four hours earlier, precisely, August 22, when he arrived America with the other participants, the beard-wearing and dark complexioned Chief Oboko, who, through his organization, FNDIC, had assisted the Federal Government in the release of Americans taken hostage by militants in the Niger-Delta region in the past was practically taken hostage by American security agents on suspicion that he was a Muslim and a terrorist.
He was handcuffed and detained in a toilet before he was forced the next day to sign papers; annulling the visa he was granted by the American Embassy in Nigeria to attend a training programme on peace and non-violence.
Chief Bello hails from the Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, which plays host to the giant US oil firm, Cheveron-Texaco. He is furious about the ordeal he passed through in the hands of American security agents and he poured his fury in an interview with Saturday Vanguard. Excerpt:
Trip to America
I accepted the offer to take the trip to the US fundamentally because, earlier, top diplomatic corps from the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US) held crucial meetings with the FNDIC in Warri at the Wellington Hotels on March 13, 2006 over FNDIC efforts in helping the freedom for the first foreign "hostages" taken in the Niger Delta and having heard, firsthand, the genuine grievances of the Ijaw, the top UK/US diplomatic corps resolved and promised to continue to identify with the Niger Delta if the Federal Government fails to peacefully resolve the Niger Delta question.
In a letter entitled "Establishment of Nonviolence Centres- Capacity Building Programme in the US for Select Youth Leaders from the Niger Delta Region - Request for Sponsorship" , dated 26th May 2008, the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FENN) did apply for sponsorship from Chevron/Texaco Nigeria Ltd (Escravos) through the Federated Niger Delta Ijaw Communities (FNDIC).
In lieu of nonviolence and peace, and in response to the aforementioned request, the FNDIC in a letter entitled "APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE", dated June 3, 2008, wrote the Operations Manager Chevron/Texaco Nigeria Ltd, Escravos forwarding details of the application by the FEHN.
As alleged in reports of the Human Rights Watch (HRW), the military men were aided and abetted by the Chevron Nigeria Limited on January 4, 1999 in carrying out the aggression against the Ijaw people in the oil rich communities of Opia and Ikenyan. Having allegedly provided logistics assistance for the massive joint military extra-judicial executions on the Egbema-Ijaw people in both Opia and Ikenyan communities on January 4, 1999, Chevron Texaco Nigeria Ltd was to prove to be a worthy neighbour.
Consequently, turning over a new leaf from the oil blood syndrome and operating behind terror of massive joint military extra-judicial executions, Chevron/Texaco Nig. Limited, towards peace-building, accepted the request and sponsored the US training programme in issue.
The Centre for Nonviolence and Peace Studies, University of Rhode Island, USA in a letter dated May 26, 2008 and signed by Bernard Lafayette Jr. Ed. D, Director and Distinguished Scholar in Residence communicated the office of the US Consular-General, America Embassy in Nigeria extending invitation to 22 officials of the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN) to the United States of America, including Chief Oboko Bello in No 5 of the list of officials.
Grant of Visa
Consequently, visa applications for the 22 FEHN officials including me were voluntarily forwarded to the Consular-General of US Embassy, Lagos. Subsequently, visa interview dates were fixed, interview conducted and visas were issued accordingly. For instance, my visa was issued on July 25, 2008.
On August 22, 2008 in the Departure Hall of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos, all passports of the FEHN officials, including my passport were checked, stamped and signed, all luggage were scrutinized and all passengers were subjected to all security scrutiny before checking in and boarding the DELTA AIRLINE for Atlanta USA, 23/08/08 at about 1300hrs.
Visiting the US, which is known for democracy, my wish was that one would be treated with hospitality and not the hostility of the President George W. Bush's Homeland Security. You see, US is regarded as the foremost country for democracy and perhaps, Nigeria's growing democracy. Seeking equal political space for all citizens, the FNDIC, over the years, has been applying nonviolence and peace and has made a worthy case before the Nigerian Nation State and its relevant agencies, the INEC, and the government is dialoguing with genuine agitators. The case for franchise is being considered and FNDIC is maintaining the peace.
My utmost consternation
To my greatest dismay, I was wrongfully considered a terrorist and a Muslim; I was taken on hostage and visited with hostility by President George W. Bush's Homeland Security in Atlanta, USA on 22-24/08/08 thereby posing challenges to the credibility of:
(i) Operations of University of Rhode Island, USA;
(ii) Operations of Consular-General, US Embassy, Lagos, Nigeria;
(iii) Cause of Nonviolence and Peace supported by Chevron/Texaco Nigeria Ltd;
(iv) FEHN's right to propagate nonviolence and peace in and outside Nigeria; and
(v) The struggle to guarantee democracy, equal political space and secure the future for Ijaw homeland in the Niger Delta of Nigeria.
Unless otherwise proven, sponsors of terror activities cannot be rightly said to be the Chevron/Texaco, University of Rhode Island, USA, Consular-General, US Embassy, Lagos, Nigeria, FEHN, Ijaw Ethnic Nationality and Nigerian Nation State.
My arrest
As passengers disembarked at the end of the tunnel in Atlanta, USA, men of the President George W. Bush's Homeland Security appeared to carry out routine check on travel documents.
Checking my passport, the Homeland Security ordered me to step aside from the passengers' queue and I followed the security men through separate route, which led us to the office of Homeland security Bureau of Custom and Border Protection.
In the Homeland Security Bureau of Custom and Border Protection, Iwas told by the security men that my travel documents had problems and whether alternative documents could be produced by me to guarantee my stay in Atlanta. I said I had no alternative documents.
The Homeland Security asked me further: Do you know that we have been directed to send Chief Oboko Bello to prison for the night and by tomorrow six o'clock, Chief Oboko Bello would be released and returned to Nigeria?
I answered, no, I don't know of such a directive. I was asked to sign an understanding to either withdraw my application for US visa obtained in Nigeria or face a decision of grave consequences of deportation by the homeland security.
Visa application withdrawal forms were produced by the homeland security and Chief Oboko Bello was compelled to sign them all, and was thus returned without being deported.
I least expected that my application for visa duly granted in Lagos, Nigeria would be unduly withdrawn by cancellation in far away Atlanta USA for no fault of mine.
Interrogation
After passing the conclusive jail threat and issuing the threat to take a decision of grave consequences, Homeland Security took me to a secret room for interrogation. Two officers of the Homeland Security carried out the interrogation in which questions were read from an already drawn up and prepared three page questionnaires.
To my greatest surprise, no single question relating to my travel document nor irregularities in the travel documents were asked me. The questions were all based on terrorism and religion, relating to wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Nigeria's Niger Delta and religion. The questions and answers included but not restricted to the followings:
How the Ijaw people feel and what is their role in the war in Iraq?
Ijaw people have no business being part of the Iraq war.
How the Ijaw people feel and what is their role in the war in Afganistan?
The war in Afganistan does not determine the Ijaw activities in the Niger Delta of Nigeria.
How do the Ijaw people feel about the war waged by Hezbollah in Lebanon?
The Ijaw and FNDIC had no business there in Lebanon.
As President of the FNDIC and leader of the Ijaw people, what have been your roles in the Niger Delta crisis characterized by hostage taking, pipeline vandalization and killing?
To identify reconcilable issues in the people's desires and articulate them into legitimate demands.
What is your religion - are you a Muslim or a Christian
Christianity
If a Christian, what Christian denomination do you attend?
Jehovah Witness
If a Jehovah's Witness, what is the Minister of Jehovah's Witnesses called?
Teacher
What is the worship place of the Jehovah's Witnesses called?
Kingdom Hall
Are you not hunted by the Nigeria government?
No, I am neither a security risk nor a fugitive.
How did you get to the Nigeria Airport for your flight to Atlanta?
Through public taxi transport, without any cause to hide.
Without any charge and trial, I was convicted and jailed in the Atlanta Central Maximum Jail prison Room No. 204 on August 23. After 12 midnight to after 10 am, same day (10 hours) and robed in Prison outfit. I was handcuffed and my fellow prison inmates included Russians, Iranians, Zimbabweans, Palestinians, Nigerians, Ghanaians, etc.
I was detained in a toilet at the Homeland Security Bureau for Custom and Border Protection at the Atlanta Airport suffering indignity on 23/08/08 about 1100hrs to 1600hrs.
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