Kwalekeme Raises Alarm: “My Life Is In Danger” — Niger Delta Activist Alleges Abduction, Beating And Forced Ingestion Of Unknown Substance, Petitions IGP To Probe Otuaro, Police Conduct

By Passman Akpos

A Niger Delta stakeholder and self-described founding partner of the Kaiama Declaration, Mr. Cletus Kwalekeme (JP), has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, alleging threats, abduction, assault and an attempt on his life following his advocacy over the welfare of Niger Delta ex-militants and activities surrounding the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

In a petition dated September 18, 2026 and addressed to the Force Headquarters in Abuja, Kwalekeme alleged that his public activities and social-media publications concerning ex-militants led to his arrest, pressure to remove some of his posts and, subsequently, what he described as an abduction in Delta State.

The allegations contained in the petition have not been independently established by Tarakirivoice, and the material made available for this report does not include responses from the Nigeria Police Force, PAP Administrator Dr. Dennis Otuaro or any person identified by Kwalekeme as being involved in the alleged attack.

Kwalekeme Links Advocacy To Controversy

Kwalekeme said his advocacy had focused on what he described as the welfare and entitlements of former militants, as well as alleged irregularities involving contractors, arrests, harassment and other matters connected with the Amnesty Programme.

He also made allegations concerning the administration of Otuaro, who has served as Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

According to Kwalekeme, about 80 per cent of stipends allegedly meant for ex-militants had been diverted through Bureau de Change operators.

He did not provide, in the material accompanying the petition, an official finding establishing the allegation.

However, he claimed to possess documents, certified statements of account, voice notes and other materials which he believes could assist investigators in determining whether the allegations have any evidentiary basis.

Arrest At Zone 5

Kwalekeme alleged that the controversy intensified following his arrest on July 9, 2026, while travelling from Asaba to Zone 5 in Benin City.

According to his account, he was questioned by police officers and later released to a surety with an instruction to produce witnesses capable of substantiating information he had presented.

He said he subsequently complied with the instruction.

Kwalekeme further alleged that he was later pressured to remove social-media publications concerning Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, and Otuaro.

He claimed that compensation was offered to him if he deleted the publications but said he refused, maintaining that he had a responsibility to continue raising concerns over the welfare of Niger Delta ex-militants.

Kwalekeme alleged that he was subsequently told by police that he was “on his own.”

‘I Was Abducted And Beaten’ — Kwalekeme

The most serious allegation contained in the petition concerns what Kwalekeme described as an abduction the following day.

According to him, unidentified persons took him to an unknown location around the Ughelli axis of Delta State.

He alleged that he was beaten, threatened and forced at gunpoint to ingest an unidentified substance.

Kwalekeme further alleged that his attackers made references to his earlier interaction with police at Zone 5 and linked the alleged assault to his refusal to delete his social-media publications.

He claimed that he was struck around the neck with a stick and hit on the head with a pistol before being forced to take the unidentified substance.

According to his account, he eventually escaped and reached the A Division Police Station in Ughelli, where he said he made what he described as a dying declaration concerning the incident.

Hospitalised After Alleged Attack

Kwalekeme said officers at the station observed his condition and directed that he be taken to Central Hospital, Ughelli, for urgent medical attention.

He claimed that he survived the incident but has continued to experience health problems which he attributes to the alleged assault and forced ingestion.

The medical claims, as well as the circumstances surrounding the alleged attack, would require independent verification through medical records, police records, witness accounts and other available evidence.

Demands Independent Investigation In Abuja

In the petition, Kwalekeme asked the Inspector-General of Police to direct the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 5, Benin City, to transfer the case file to Force Headquarters in Abuja.

He said such a transfer would allow what he described as a comprehensive and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his arrest and alleged abduction.

His request includes an investigation into the conduct of police officers involved in the matter, the allegations he made concerning Otuaro, the identities and activities of the alleged abductors and broader issues surrounding the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

Kwalekeme also requested police protection, saying the sequence of events had heightened fears for his safety.

Claims Documents Could Aid Investigation

The petitioner said he was prepared to submit documents and other materials allegedly in his possession to investigators.

Among the materials he referenced were a consent judgment, certified statements of account and alleged voice notes involving Bureau de Change operators.

He urged the police to examine the materials and establish whether they support or contradict the allegations contained in his petition.

Why The Kaiama Connection Matters

The Kaiama Declaration was adopted by Ijaw youths at Kaiama, Bayelsa State, on December 11, 1998, following an All Ijaw Youths Conference. The declaration addressed issues including control of natural resources, environmental degradation and self-determination in the Niger Delta.

The declaration became an important document in the history of Niger Delta activism and preceded a period of heightened confrontation between activists, communities, oil companies and security forces in the region. Human Rights Watch documented violent confrontations and security-force abuses in the aftermath of protests associated with the declaration.

Kwalekeme’s reference to the Kaiama Declaration therefore places his stated advocacy within a much longer history of agitation over resource control, environmental justice, political representation and the treatment of Niger Delta communities.

Police Face Pressure To Establish What Happened

For now, the central allegations in Kwalekeme’s petition remain claims requiring investigation.

The key questions include whether his arrest occurred as alleged, what instructions were given to him by police officers, whether anyone attempted to pressure him into deleting his publications, whether the alleged abduction and assault occurred, who may have been responsible and whether any connection exists between the alleged attack and the issues he had been raising concerning PAP.

There is also the separate question of whether the allegations concerning the alleged diversion of ex-militant stipends through Bureau de Change operators are supported by documentary or financial evidence.

A credible investigation would therefore need to examine police records, medical documentation, witness statements, financial records, digital evidence and the other materials Kwalekeme says he is ready to submit.

As of the time of publication, no response from Otuaro, the police or any alleged suspect was included in the petition material available for this report.

The outcome of any investigation could determine whether the allegations amount to criminal offences, whether the claims concerning the Amnesty Programme have evidentiary support and whether further legal or administrative action is warranted.