An indigene of Bayelsa state, Nigeria, Festus Akpos Lokri has written to the security agents over the threat to life by unknown militants in the Niger Delta region.

According to a statement made available to Vanguard, Lokri said the matter had been reported to the Bayelsa police Command, adding that it promised to investigate and bring the culprits to book.

Lokri who narrated his ordeal appealed to security agents to prevail on the suspected militants threatening him and his family, adding that he and his family can’t live in the open because of the threat.

He said they have been in their hideouts for the past 14 years.

The statement reads, “I Festus Akpos Lokri write to inform the Nigerian Security Operatives about the threat to my life and that of the members of my family.”

Lokiri explained that sometime in August 2005, he received a call from an unknown number who identified themselves as members of a militant group, where the suspects threatened him and members of his family if they couldn’t find his younger brother Innocent Lokri.

He stated, “Sometime in August 2005, I received a call from an unknown number who identified themselves as members of a militant group and they threatened to ‘kill me’ and any member of my family if they couldn’t find my younger brother Innocent Lokri.”

The Bayelsa state-born Lokri emphasized that the militants alleged his younger brother Innocent Lokri betrayed and exposed them to security operatives.

“According to them, they said my younger brother Innocent Lokri became a traitor by exposing their group’s activities to the Nigerian security operatives”.

He further maintained,  “I thought it was a mere joke until December 25, 2008, when we were taken by surprise with gunshots from unknown persons in our village residence in Aleibiri town, Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State where l lost my brother (Titus Lokri and sister (Doutimi Lokri).

“As I write to you sir, we can’t live in the open and we are still in our hideouts for over 14 years now.

“Recently, when l was thinking that by now all things would have died down, I began to receive series of phone calls from restricted numbers threatening to ‘kill me’ or any member of my family wherever we are found if l don’t produce my younger brother (Innocent Lokri).

“I am still looking for my siblings, innocent Lokri and Anthony Bobra Lokri for over 12 years now with no success, how can l produce him?

“I urge the Nigerian security operatives to thoroughly investigate this matter with the view of apprehending the suspects and bringing them to justice as we can’t come out from our hideouts to live freely”, he added.