Human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, has revealed that several prominent southeastern leaders failed to respond to his personal attempts to reach them.

Speaking in an interview with Arise TV, Sowore said that many of the political figures he once had direct access to suddenly became unreachable after he tried contacting them. According to him, even governors he personally knew, including Charles Soludo of Anambra State and Alex Otti of Abia State, never replied to his messages.

He added that while Alex Otti was once a columnist for Sahara Reporters and someone he had a personal relationship with, he still did not respond. Sowore also mentioned that he reached out to Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, who was said to be in Rome at the time. In his words:

“Some of them that I used to be able to reach just switched off their lines. The ones I sent messages to never responded. I reached out to Soludo, who I know personally, governor of Anambra State — no response till now. I reached out to Alex Otti. Alex Otti used to be a columnist for Sahara Reporters, so I know him personally. No response till now. The only response I got was a nominal one: ‘I know we shouldn’t have dragged us the way you did.’ I reached out to Peter Obi. They said he is in Rome. So I sent a message that, you can behave as Romans do too. Just be part of this.”

Sowore also opined that the delay in the release of Nnamdi Kanu is also as a result of the nonchalancy from some southeast politicians who think that the release of Kanu will jeopardize their political career.

The Activist also dragged Ohanaeze Ndigbo, stating that when he included the release of Nnamdi Kanu as part of his endbadgoverment protest in 2024, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo issued an official statement that they are not part of the protest.

Sowere believes that if southeast politicians and traditional rulers have been involved in this since, Nnamdi Kanu would have been released.

The Forward Operating Base, FOB, Escravos of the Nigerian Navy says it has deactivated six illegal refining sites at Obodo Omadino Community in Warri South Local Government of Delta.

Navy Capt. Ikenna Okoloagu, the Commanding Officer of the FOB, Escravos disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Warri.

Okoloagu said the operations were carried out between October 2 and October 6 in the coastal community.

He said that an approximated 11,200 litres of stolen crude were seized in the series of coordinated operations.

The naval boss added that the products were discovered in 28 dugout pits and six polythene sacks.

“The FOB Escravos has deactivated six illegal refining sites at Obodo Omadino Community and seized approximately 11,200 litres of stolen crude in a series of coordinated operations.

“The products were discovered in 28 dugout pits and six polythene sacks. Also, one pumping machine was recovered,” he said.

Okoloagu said that the operations were part of the ongoing Operation DELTA SANITY II, adding that the feat was made possible through credible intelligence.

According to him, the operations aligned with the strategic directives of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla to stern illegalities in the maritime space.

Okoloagu, however, reiterated the Base’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation’s oil assets against economic sabotage.

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