Pecohub Former militant leader and controversial Niger Delta figure Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo has once again sparked national tension after images surfaced online showing him parading a heavily armed gunboat, equipped with what appears to be a belt-fed heavy machine gun—possibly a variant of the W85 or DShK.
The photo, verified by open-source intelligence researchers and circulated widely on social media, shows multiple armed personnel aboard black-and-blue speedboats, with visible mounted weaponry and live ammunition belts. The location appears to be a riverside dock in the Niger Delta, consistent with areas under Dokubo’s known operations.
Show of Force or Security Risk?
Dokubo, who has frequently boasted of running “private military operations” in support of President Bola Tinubu, has made inflammatory statements in the past about replacing or outmatching the Nigerian Armed Forces in the oil-rich region.
Critics say this latest public show of force is an outright provocation, amounting to a parallel militia with firepower rivaling that of state actors.
“No non-state actor should be allowed to possess or display such battlefield-grade weapons,” said retired Brigadier General I.S. Danjuma. “This is not about politics — this is about the rule of law and national security.”
Military High Command Keeps Mum
As of press time, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has issued no public response to the growing backlash over the presence of such military-grade weapons in private hands.
When asked about the legality of Dokubo’s armed operations during a press briefing earlier this year, the Chief of Defence Staff merely said, “All patriotic efforts in securing oil assets are appreciated.”
That vague endorsement has since fueled speculation that Dokubo enjoys tacit protection from high-ranking officials, possibly due to his vocal support of the current administration.
Legal and Political Implications
According to Nigerian firearms law, no civilian or private outfit is allowed to operate machine guns or gunboats fitted with mounted weapons.
Doing so without clear statutory authority constitutes illegal possession of military equipment, punishable under federal anti-terrorism laws.
“If this were anyone else, the Navy or DSS would have moved in by now,” said a legal analyst in Abuja. “But it seems there’s one rule for Dokubo and another for everyone else.”
Meanwhile, security experts warn this emboldening of regional strongmen may trigger escalating rivalries, arms buildup, and unrest in the volatile Niger Delta.
Human rights organizations, ex-military officers, and civil society groups have demanded urgent clarification from the presidency and security chiefs.
