The octogenarian father of Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, who is currently on the run from security agencies, Chief Thomas Ekpemupolo, has died; he was 84.
Chief Ekpemupolo died early Wednesday morning at a private clinic; Lily Clinic, in Warri, after a brief illness.
According to Paul Bebenimibo, Tompolo’s spokesman, the military assault on the octogenarian led to his eventual demise adding that he sustained some injuries during the recent military raid of his community in Gbaramatu kingdom .
Shortly after the military invaded their Kurutie community, Tompolo alleged that soldiers assaulted his aged father inflicting gunshot wound on him. He alleged that this had caused his health to deteriorate. He said the invading soldiers subjected his father to both emotional and physical pain as he was being moved from house to house and was treated like a common criminal.
The octogenarian was said to have drifted in and out of sicknesses which became worse after the soldiers harassed him, moving him from his abode in Kurutie to other places.
He was said to have a problem with one of his legs, barely two months ago, which was amputated.
Tompolo had written open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari to complain of the treatment meted to his father and family members.
“I wish to write your Excellency once again on the continuous harassment and intimidation of my family members and close associates by your security agencies (Nigerian Army, Navy, Department of State Service (DSS), and the Police,” he wrote.
“Sadly, one of his lower limbs was amputated two weeks ago. From the doctor’s report, it will be a thing of miracle if he survives this incident,” he said about his father.
“Is this 84 years old man also a member of the Niger Delta Avengers, that he was brutalised to the point of death? Will your Excellency accept this in good faith if this was done to your father or someone of this age in your family?
“I have not heard of anyone that was treated like this even in the volatile north-eastern part of the country. I have said it on many occasions that the issue I am having with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will not lead to violence or resort to destruction of pipelines and other oil facilities, because I have a good case.”
