“Delete The Posts Or Die”: Cletus Kwalekeme Alleges Abduction, Forced Poisoning After Claims Against Amnesty Administrator Dennis Otuaro
By Passman Akpos
A founding figure of the historic Kaiama Declaration, Cletus Kwalekeme, has alleged that he was abducted, beaten and forced to ingest an unknown substance by armed men after he refused to delete social media publications containing allegations against the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dennis Otuaro.
Kwalekeme made the allegations while recounting what he described as a disturbing sequence of events involving a police complaint, his detention at the Zone 5 Police Headquarters in Benin City and a subsequent attack on July 17, 2026.
According to him, Otuaro lodged a complaint alleging character defamation and bullying over posts in which Kwalekeme raised concerns about unpaid allowances allegedly owed to former Niger Delta combatants.
Kwalekeme said he was detained by the police and questioned over the publications but maintained that his allegations were based on documents and information available to him.
He claimed that, during his interaction with investigators, he produced witnesses and certified bank statements which he said were intended to support his allegations concerning the payment of monthly stipends to former militant leaders.
Kwalekeme further alleged that some of the financial records showed transactions which, according to his interpretation, involved the conversion of stipend payments into United States dollars for the personal benefit of Otuaro.
Those allegations have not been independently established by Tarakirivoice, and Otuaro has not been given an opportunity in this account to respond to the specific accusations.
Kwalekeme also alleged that about 80 percent of former Amnesty beneficiaries had gone without payments for more than three years. He said his publications were intended to draw attention to the alleged plight of unpaid beneficiaries rather than to defame any individual.
He claimed that after presenting his evidence, police officers asked him to remove the publications, but he refused, insisting that he should be released through due legal process.
According to his account, his uncle subsequently appeared and signed the bail bond, after which he was released to a surety.
Alleged Attack On Ughelli-Warri Road
Kwalekeme alleged that his ordeal took a more dangerous turn on July 17 while he was travelling between Ughelli and Warri.
He claimed that armed men intercepted him, assaulted him and forced an unknown substance into his mouth at gunpoint.
According to Kwalekeme, his attackers allegedly told him that the police at Zone 5 had ordered him to delete his publications but that he had refused to comply.
He further alleged that the assailants referred to the controversy surrounding his publications about Otuaro during the attack.
Kwalekeme said he eventually escaped and sought help through the police at the Ughelli ‘A’ Division before being taken for medical treatment.
Medical Report Details Alleged Poisoning
A medical report dated July 20, 2026, and attributed to Central Hospital, Ughelli, states that Kwalekeme, identified in the document as a 54-year-old male, was treated following what the report describes as “forced ingestion by assailants” on July 17.
The report states that he was managed for severe poisoning involving unknown substances and that his condition was critical when he arrived at the hospital, requiring urgent emergency care.
It further states that he subsequently recovered and was discharged for continued clinical follow-up.
The document is signed by Dr. Namon Saturday, identified as a Senior Medical Officer, with the Medical Records Department stamp appearing on the supplied copy.
Tarakirivoice has not independently verified the circumstances surrounding the alleged poisoning or established the identity of those responsible for the attack.
Kwalekeme Raises Foul-Play Concerns
Kwalekeme said he now suspects a connection between his earlier detention and the subsequent attack, particularly because of what he claims his attackers told him during the assault.
He also referred to an earlier video in which, according to him, individuals allegedly linked to Otuaro had threatened his life.
He said the alleged threat, coupled with the July 17 attack and the reference made by his attackers to the police directive concerning his publications, had heightened his fears for his safety
However, there is currently no independent evidence establishing that Otuaro ordered, authorized or participated in the alleged attack.
Calls For Independent Investigation
The allegations raise serious questions that warrant investigation by the appropriate authorities, particularly concerning the identity of the alleged attackers, the source of the alleged threat video, the circumstances surrounding Kwalekeme’s detention and whether there was any connection between his police complaint and the subsequent assault.
The alleged poisoning also requires forensic investigation to establish what substance was reportedly forced into his body and who was responsible.
If established, any attempt to silence a whistleblower through violence would constitute a grave threat to freedom of expression, accountability and the safety of those raising concerns about public funds.
For now, Kwalekeme is calling for an independent investigation into the incident and says the medical report and other documents in his possession should form part of any inquiry.
Tarakirivoice could not independently verify all of Kwalekeme’s allegations contained in this report. Dennis Otuaro and the Presidential Amnesty Programme should be given the opportunity to respond to the allegations, including the claims concerning unpaid stipends, the police complaint, alleged threats and the alleged attack.
