Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), who is currently being hunted by security agents over allegations of fraud leveled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has reportedly established contact with the Deputy Governor of Delta State and Chairman, Advocacy Committee Against Oil Facility Vandalism, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro.
Tompolo, believed to be the godfather of Otuaro following his contributions in making him deputy governor, was said to have telephoned Otuaro from his hideout on Saturday, alleging that soldiers’ invasion of Oporoza community in search of him was prompting him to join forces with the Niger Delta Avengers, the new militant group that has destroyed several oil installations in the Delta in recent times.
In a report credited to Vanguard, the former Commander of Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, was quoted to have told Otuaro that despite the aggravating military action, which has left defenceless women and children trapped in the bush since Saturday, he would never renege on his stand against bombing of oil installations having accepted amnesty in 2009.
A source which confided in the newspaper said: “I can tell you that Tompolo actually phoned the deputy governor telling him that he was being tempted to go back to his vomit by the military, but he would not like to fall for it. The deputy governor, who is a minister of the Most High God counselled him not to ever make such a mistake in his life.”
The report said Otuaro confirmed that the wanted former militant actually called him.
His words: “It is true; it was yesterday (Saturday) that he called my phone on the Oporoza military invasion allegedly in search for him, which left helpless women and children in the bush for over 48 hours now.”
According to the report, he said it (the alleged invasion), was a temptation intended to provoke him to join forces with the Niger Delta Avengers.
“In his (Tompolo) words: ’I have often denounced and dissociated myself from the Niger Delta Avengers, I am not an Avenger and I do not want to be part of them. I pray and wish not to fall into that temptation.’ This is what he told me on the phone”, Otuaro was quoted to have said.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa had recentlt set up an Advocay Group to end pipeline vandalism in the creeks which he said hurts Delta State the more. The Otuaro-led Advocacy Committee had earlier said it has opened platforms for dialogue for whoever that is aggrieved in the Niger Delta region, including suspected members of Niger Delta Avengers and ex-MEND leader, Tompolo in a bid to avert crises that may not discriminate between the innocent and the guilty within the region.
On the command of President Buhari, soldiers have continued the siege to Gbaramatu Kingdom, swooping on Tompolo’s ancestral home of Kurutie in six gunboats at about 4:30 am on Monday probably in search of Tompolo on one hand and members of the Niger Delta Avengers on the other.
The raid led to a gruesome gun duel in the creeks. Most of the youths of Oporoza have vacated their homes for fear of arrest.
Saturday’s raid on Oporoza, the headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom reportedly led to the arrest of about ten persons who the army paraded as suspected members of NDA.
Tompolo had repeatedly denied having any link with the Niger Delta Avengers.
