By Uduak Etim
The Bilabiri community is currently embroiled in a wave of misinformation and deceitful narratives that threaten its peace and unity. On September 19th, 2024, the communities within Ekeremor local government came together to officially welcome DARLON SECURITY, an initiative aimed at enhancing security and battling criminal activities that jeopardize their safety, livelihood, and the economy of the Nation. Rather than fueling unrest, this gathering indicated a united front against sea piracy, kidnapping, and pipeline vandalism. This seemingly innocuous event has sparked a torrent of claims indicating that the community is being flooded with militias, recruiting more militants to carry out their nefarious activities, and killing a militant general “Frank B. Seide”.
At the heart of these controversies lies a committed effort to vilify the leadership of the community, particularly the chairman, Mr. Tekena Abaka, Bright Wilson Isopi, and Ebimene Abaka, who is accused of heinous acts without evidence.
The allegations brought forth by Lucky Tubotu point to a dark narrative suggesting that Bilabiri has become a stronghold for militants. However, the reality presented by the community’s leaders reveals a different tale altogether. They assert that the gathering was solely aimed at enhancing security measures against rampant issues like piracy and kidnapping that plague the region. Such proactive steps are important for the protection of the nation’s economy, particularly the crucial oil and gas production activities. Contrary to the claims, the community actively pursues peace and stability, essential to their way of life.
In the face of escalating accusations, Samson P. Samson, the chairman of the “Niger Delta Patriots”, has vehemently condemned the fabrications surrounding the Bilabiri community. He highlights that the deliberate attack, propagated by foot soldiers of Frank B. Seide, seeks to destabilize the peaceful existence of the residents. The overarching intent of these false narratives is to discredit community leaders, including Mr. Ebimene Abaka, who has actively championed a transformative initiative aimed at safeguarding their lands from pervasive threats of piracy, kidnapping, and vandalism, those with venomous intent pounced. Flagging up DARLON SECURITY has become both a beacon of hope for some who love peace in the region and a target for others who want to continue with their criminal activities.
The assembly was a collective plea for security, emblematic of the indigenes’ commitment to safeguarding their heritage and livelihoods. Rather than fostering a sense of community, attackers chose to weave distorted tales of militant recruitment, branding a movement rooted in peace-seeking as a vessel for violence.
The prevailing sentiments reflect a community rallying against unwarranted chaos, countering claims with unity and determination.
The troubling claims of violence and recruitment have left many in disbelief, raising questions about the sources stirring unrest. The community wonders if another Bilabiri exists, one marked by disarray contrary to their peaceful reality. Amidst these concerns, it is clear that the attacks emanate from those harboring grievances against leaders like Mr. Abaka, who advocate for law and order. The unyielding narrative against him is viewed as a desperate attempt to impose chaos where there is order, indicating a clash between progress and obsolete criminal endeavors.
We do not need any prophet to tell us the reason behind these unnecessary attacks and harassment of our brother.
They are simply acting out of scripts written by their sponsors who benefit from activities of criminality. They are sent to attack and rubbish “Darlon Security” so it would not build forces to fight against their criminal activities, and we know that part of Ebimene’s “crime” is the bold step of flagging off for “Darlon Security”.
Unfortunately, their madness has taken the new dimension of attaching the names of those they hated to horrible crimes that such people know nothing about. Their hysterical outbursts stem from their obvious frustration engendered by their inability to continue with your criminal activities of killings, violence, impersonation, stealing, kidnapping, and sea piracy.
They are simply after our illustrious son Abaka Ebimene who is against evil acts and has been on the side of peace, truth, justice, and positive developments.
His accusers are the criminals who hide under the umbrella of the death of Frank Seide to deceive the public that we are in bondage and under siege. The killing they claimed was carried out by Ebimene is nothing but odious accusations to blackmail him to the general public.
The only times we do see Lucky Tubotu and Prince Yinrin Johnbo is when they are coming with information about where to kidnap.
They came to deceive the public because a lot of people don’t know who this Frank was before his death and themselves and I will uncover the little I know about them…
Frank was brought up by his Elder Brother Saturday Paul B. Seide from Bilabiri 1 Community who initiated Frank B. Seide into the criminal world like Kidnapping, Sea Pirate within the coast of Nigerian Waters and beyond. His name is Frank Brake-ere Seide and his nickname is Sea-Lion.
Frank, an ex-convict remains the most notorious armed robber, sea piracy to have terrorized this part of the country. He was carrying out deadly attacks in Dodo Rivers and beyond.
Saturday Paul Brake-ere Seide aka “Angrikpe” the Egbesu priest is a specialist in Egbesu charms and that is what he does for a living before his miserable death. Criminal gangs from other places do come to pay homage to him after succeeding.
The fact is that the deceased Frank Brake-ere Seide aka Sea-Lion was an Unrepented Militant in Bayelsa who claimed to have embraced armnesty.
In 2009, the accused Ebimene Abaka and some community leaders petitioned IGP via their Lawyer. Barrister F.A. Bekeobiri about Frank and his criminal gang. The Intelligence Response Team (IRT) has facts and proof about the confession of one of the suspects they arrested.
We have witnessed on several occasions the raiding of our community by security agencies on account of criminal activities by Frank and his elder brother Sartuday Paul Brake-ere Seide aka “Angrikpe” the Egbesu priest.
One of the major cases of kidnapping of foreign oil workers in the Niger Delta took place on the 6th of June 2006 where Frank and his gang kidnapped Expertrates from Bilabiri Field operated by Peak Petroleum and Equator Exploration and they were released to the former deputy Governor, Hon. Peremobowei Ebebi and the State Government team with the ransom of Fifteen Million Naira (15,000,000.00).
On January 17th, 2020 Frank Seide masterminded the abduction of Four (4) Expatriates in MV AMBIKA, a Sterling Oil dredger at Ramos River Agge, the gang was led by Morikeme Kula which resulted in the death of Four Naval Personnel led to the burning down of Bilabiri Community including Frank and Paul Sartuday Seide houses.
In the year 2013 the same Frank attacked and killed a British Man and Lambado who were working with the Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Sen. Seriake Dickson. He was arrested and taken to Okaka Prison in Bayelsa State and was pardoned in 2015 on the 13th of April by the Governor.
In June 2008, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) clamped down on him, Frank Seide, and his brother Paul B. Seide who leads a gang of kidnappers/sea pirates in the State. According to their publication, Frank held Bilabiri Kingdom by the jugular since 2003 under the leadership of his brother as a self-acclaimed royal father. He unlawfully killed the younger sister of his mother, whom he accused of witchcraft. In June 2006 he invaded the community with armed youths, threatening to shoot to death anybody who challenged his supremacy, including the bona fide traditional ruler, King Dodo II, Winston E. Ogoun, the Pere of Bilabiri Kingdom, who relocated to Yenagoa, the state capital.
In 2008 he and his gang went to attack Fishing Troller Offshore and the security men exchanged fire with them and two of his boys were killed.
Mr. Ati Robert, Chief Debor Robert and Mina Fun Omotete from Bilabiri 2 community are the ones behind Paul B. Seide impersonating our king HRM King Dodo 11, and have continue to sponsor criminality and disunity among Bilabiri 1 communty and the kingdom in order to continue to embezzle the communities funds.
He and his gangs went for Robbery Operation in Apapa, Lagos First Bank where they succeeded and made their way through the water to Delta unfortunately for them they missed their root and found themselves in Ondo State where the bank robbery information had earlier gotten to the JTF, on their arrival the Army opened fire on them and killed some of their gang members Frank and one other survived.
The people of Bilabiri Community were under slavery and captive at the hands of these gangsters. Chiefs were beaten severely and threatened. You are to remain silent if you don’t support him and his brother. It was a terrible situation.
On the 13th of April 2018, Ebime Abaka was on his way to Letugbene Community to buy something, when he got to the middle of the River, he saw Frank and his group, they were all Armed with sophisticated weapons chasing him with three (3) Speed Boats, all of them were Armed, he quickly instructed the driver of his boat to direct his Speed Boat to the JTF Base while getting close to the Base, Frank and his gang double-crossed him and got him beaten mercilessly if not for the intervention of the JTF Personnel, Capt. Alare and his men, he would have been a dead man for no reason.
On the 14th of April 2018, Frank B. Seide and Lucky Tubotu with their boys dethroned and removed the Nigeria flag of the community highness, HRH Soja Dede for not supporting their evil activities in the community.
In April 2021, Frank led boys to the community to stop Capt. Joshua Oropere was the elected Cluster Chairman but Ebimene Abaka, the youths and some fearless elders and Chiefs stood against him. Frank and his boys clash with the youths in the evening intending to open fire on them but the ancestors turn against him and he is the only person who dies miserably in his group while five of the community youths are severely injured and are taken for treatment. His elder brother who was sick died miserably at the same time. The law of karma visited them.
Yirin Johnbo and Lucky Tubotu were foot soldiers of Frank who fought to make their way into the community to continue from Frank.
March 15, 2024, Lucky Tubotu, Yirin Johnbo, and Morikeme Kula accompanied by their gang visited Bilabiri Community with sophisticated weapons to kill Ebimene Abaka and others who stood against lawlessness but unfortunately, they were at Warri at the time they visited.
This is because the young man called Ebimene Abaka has brought peace to the Community and Dodo River at large educating the youths to avoid criminal activities and joining the federal government to fight crimes. Unfortunately, Prince Yirin Johnbo who married Tompolo’s younger sister and who Tompolo appointed Tantita Security Coordinator with his uncle Lucky Tubotu is doing everything humanly possible to bring trouble to our Community. The matter of Frank’s death was settled by High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, alias “Tompolo” with the state government awareness, and with the presence of Bilabiri 1 and 2 community and the family of Frank.
It is a pitiable state now the matter settled by Tompolo, “his brother-in-law” is been dragged in the mud to discredit his effort.
For the records, Abaka Ebimene is a kind-hearted generous young man who believes absolutely in the Bilabiri project.
If he has committed any crime, it is making sure that there is peace and progress in Bilabiri Mein Kingdom.
He has not brought a bad name to our community.
All the allegations are done out of acrimony and bad intent to destroy not only Ebimene Abaka but all the peace-loving people of Bilabiri community.
The same people who are deceiving the public with lies are the ones still calling the community with threats to invade the land.
I urged the presidency and security chiefs to investigated the gangsters “Prince Yinrin Johnbow and Lucky Tubotu” and made to face the law.
Whosoever that has vowed to give him a bad name and get him killed should know that all powers belong to God and who God has not killed, no man can kill.“
While distractions may abound, the steadfastness of Bilabiri’s spirit cannot be easily subdued, illuminating a path toward a more harmonious future.
It is important to state categorically that Bilabiri community is totally at peace and the members of the community go about their duties without fear of insecurity.