Tompolo again denies involvement in Niger Delta Avengers
(Nigeria) Former militant leader, Government Ekpempuolo, alias Tompolo, has said that he does not know the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA and asked the militant group responsible for the renewed attacks on oil facilities to embrace dialogue if it was truly fighting for Niger Deltans.
In a statement on
Sunday, he said, “I wish to appeal to you (Niger Delta Avengers) once again to stop the bombing of oil
facilities in the Niger Delta region, and embrace the path of dialogue with the
Federal Government of Nigeria, as the government is ready to hear you out on
whatever issues you wish to discuss with it.
“You guys know that I do not know you and how to reach you,
except through the mass media. If truly, as you guys claimed, that you are
fighting for the well-being of the people of the Niger Delta, then you must
adhere to this appeal, otherwise, the world will label you as criminals.
“You members of the Niger Delta Avengers group are aware
that some mischievous persons have continued to point accusing fingers at me
that I am either behind you or directly carrying out the destruction of oil
pipelines across the Niger Delta region, therefore , I should be arrested by
the Nigerian military.
“Sadly, the military had bought this ethnic induced and
wicked accusation without a single proof to show that I am truly behind you
people. On the other hand, some have suggested that you may be part of the
multitude of persons I had catered for, from economically empowering to payment
of school fees, hospital bills, and house rents and so on.
“And that as am out of circulation as a result of my
travails in the hands of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,
you might be tempted to strike out on your own for sheer survival. Whichever
the case, I still maintain that I know nothing about your group and the
destruction of crude oil facilities in the Niger Delta region.
“I have made it clear in many occasions that the issue I am
having with the EFFC will not make me to resort to violence and bombing of oil
pipelines as my team of lawyers have already challenged the defective process
of legal service on me in the Court of Appeal. I am a man of truth and peace,
therefore will not be involved in violent activities.
“Come to think of the
consequences of your actions in the region so far, particularly as it affects
me and the people of Gbaramatu kingdom. Just yesterday (Saturday), the Nigerian
Army invaded the ancestral headquarters of the kingdom, Oporoza town, under the
guise of looking for members of your group, particularly me, who they have
wickedly linked to your group, and unleashed mayhem on the innocent people of
the community.
“And this happened in my absence as I am currently out of
Gbaramatu kingdom, but what I gathered from some of the victims of the army
invasion is unspeakable. Even pots of soup where not spared. The army has
massively looted resident homes, desecrated traditional places of worship,
committed sacrilege and abominations, and has continued to occupy the community
until this moment.
“What a sad tale, one thing you should know is that
government is not interested in its constitutional duty of protection of lives
and the welfare of its citizens, rather it is interested in the continuous flow
of crude oil in the region. Therefore, it could do anything to make the oil
flow, not minding the security and the welfare of the people,” he said.
“Remember, this same
army arrested Chevron Nigeria Ltd staff and labeled them as members of the
Niger Delta Avengers, few weeks ago, in one of the communities in Gbaramatu
kingdom. It took a spirited effort by the community and other well-meaning
Nigerians to intervene for the release of those Chevron staff. This shows that
the Nigerian government can do anything to our innocent people in the
communities in the guise of looking for members of the Avengers.
“One other reason you
guys must stop this new campaign of destruction is that the contractors in
charge of repair works of attacked pipelines are equally culpable in the act of
pipeline vandalism as they now sponsor their allies in the communities to
continue to destroy pipelines to get more repair works. This is the sorry state
we have found ourselves in the Niger Delta.
“To this end, dear Niger Delta Avengers, you must put an end
to this economic sabotage and allow the government to look into your demands
now. I believe a word is enough for the wise,” he said.
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