Veteran Niger Delta activist says armed men attacked and forced him to ingest a toxic substance after he refused to delete allegations against Amnesty Programme Administrator Dennis Otuaro.

Niger Delta activist and key figure in the historic Kaiama Declaration, Cletus Kwalekeme, has alleged that he was abducted, beaten and forcibly poisoned by armed men following his public criticism of the administration of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

Kwalekeme, who is demanding a full investigation into the incident, said the attack followed his refusal to remove social media posts in which he accused the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dennis Otuaro, of financial impropriety and failure to pay thousands of former militants.

According to him, the confrontation began after he publicly raised questions over the management of funds allocated to the Amnesty Programme, alleging that a large number of former combatants had gone for years without receiving their monthly stipends.

Otuaro subsequently petitioned the Zone 5 Police Headquarters in Benin City, accusing Kwalekeme of defamation and cyberbullying, according to the activist.

Kwalekeme said he was detained and questioned by police officers over the allegations but declined to delete his publications.

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He claimed that, during the interrogation, he presented documents and witness accounts which he said supported his allegations concerning the management of funds meant for beneficiaries of the programme.

The activist further alleged that some of the documents contained financial records which, in his interpretation, raised questions about the handling of monthly stipends and other payments under the programme.

He said he was eventually released on bail after refusing what he described as an informal proposal to remove the disputed publications from the internet.

Alleged Attack

Kwalekeme said the situation took a more dangerous turn on July 17, 2026, while he was travelling between Ughelli and Warri in Delta State.

He alleged that armed men intercepted his vehicle, dragged him out and subjected him to severe beating.

According to his account, the attackers subsequently forced him to ingest a toxic chemical substance while threatening him over his refusal to delete the posts concerning the Amnesty Programme.

Kwalekeme claimed that his attackers specifically referenced the earlier pressure on him to take down his publications.

He also alleged that the attack was connected to a previous public threat in which individuals he believes were linked to the Amnesty Programme leadership allegedly called for his elimination.

However, the allegations have not been independently verified, and there is no indication in the account that the accused officials or the Presidential Amnesty Programme have been found responsible for the attack.

Escape to Police Station

Despite his injuries and the alleged poisoning, Kwalekeme said he managed to escape and make his way to the 'A' Division Police Station in Ughelli.

He was subsequently taken to Ughelli General Hospital, where he received emergency medical attention.

The activist said medical records from the hospital documented the injuries and effects of the substance he allegedly consumed during the attack.

Kwalekeme is now calling for an independent investigation into the incident, insisting that the circumstances surrounding his detention, alleged abduction and subsequent attack should be thoroughly examined.

He alleged that the incident was part of a broader attempt to intimidate him and other individuals raising questions about the management of public funds under the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

Calls for Investigation

The allegations, if established, could raise serious concerns about the safety of whistleblowers and the protection of freedom of expression in the Niger Delta.

Kwalekeme has called on the Federal Government, security agencies, civil society organisations and international human rights bodies to investigate the alleged attack and determine those behind it.

He is also demanding that the financial allegations he raised against the Amnesty Programme be subjected to an independent audit rather than being treated solely as a dispute between him and the programme's leadership.

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The activist maintains that his publications were based on information and documents he believed raised legitimate questions about the administration of public funds.

The Presidential Amnesty Programme and Otuaro have not, in the material provided, publicly accepted responsibility for the alleged attack or been independently established as having ordered it.

A transparent investigation would therefore be required to establish what happened, identify those responsible for the violence and determine whether the alleged financial claims have any basis.

For Kwalekeme, however, the immediate concern is survival and justice.

He says he will continue to seek accountability over what he describes as an attempt to silence him through intimidation and violence.