A Niger Delta militants’ leader, Asari Dokubo has narrated that the immediate past Government of Muhammadu Buhari engaged him to protect the Abuja-Kaduna highway.

The highway was reputed to be one of the most dangerous and risky for travellers during the whole two terms of Buhari as Nigerian president because of incessant kidnappings and murders.

But in the twilight of the immediate past government, reports of violence crashed significantly, according to Daily Trust.

When he paid a visit to President Bola Tinubu at Aso Rock last month, Dokubo had claimed that his footmen and combatants were responsible for the axis's stability.

But in a recently released video, Dokubo boasted that his intervention was what restored peace and tranquility to the highway.

He stated that while he was not on good terms with Buhari for most of his government, the ex-President recognised the potential in him and assigned him a critical duty.

He was quoted by Daily Trust as saying: “If the Buhari-led government can engage me to bring safety for the people on the Abuja-Kaduna road, it should be commended. Do you know how many lives were saved? Do you know how many people were brought out from depression and trauma? Have you ever spoken to people who have been kidnapped?

“We did not employ ourselves. The government saw the potential in us and knowing that we can deliver and they engaged us. That the Buhari government engaged me shows that they know who I am. I was not a friend of Buhari. For seven years, I was anti-Buhari. Buhari with all that saw the capacity in me that I am capable and the government came.”

Meanwhile attempts to reach Garba Shehu, Buhari's spokesman, for comment were unsuccessful as of the time of reporting this report, as he rejected calls put through to him.