The Niger Delta Avengers, a new militant group in the region, has warned Chief Government Ekpemukpolo, aka Tompolo, to tender an unreserved apology to the body over his letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, giving his backing to the repair of the 48-inch pipeline at Forcados, despite its warning that no one should “dare go near the site”.
The group which acknowledged that Tompolo had nothing to do with the group also gave the former Niger Delta warlord three days to tender an apology to the group in the national dailies or risk his home community of Gbaramatu being attacked.
The new militancy group, in a statement published on its website on Tuesday, May 3, 2016, says that Tompolo has taken side with the federal government to fight the Niger Delta people. He was also warned to “stay clear” of its activities, even as the group gave him due respect, recognizing his personality in the region.
Tompolo had earlier in the week, in an open letter to President Buhari personally signed and titled “I Am Not Part of the Niger Delta Avengers Group”. In the letter, he alleged that the oil pipeline repair servicing companies were behind sabotage of the facilities for profit.
Tompolo also urged the oil servicing company who awarded the contract to repair the damaged Forcados 48-inch pipeline to go about its job without fear.
But the group dismissed his assurance to the federal government, saying his assurance would not prevent them from carrying out their planned destruction of the pipeline in Forcados.
In a letter, made available the press, wrote, “With due respect Sir, we the Niger Delta Avengers respect you and all former agitators from the region.
“We admire your love for the region and all you have done. The Niger Delta Avengers made it clear that we are not part of the Presidential Amnesty program because the program is not genuine.
“We the Niger Delta Avengers have only decided to pick the struggle up from where you and the former Niger Delta agitators left off; it is only the actors that are new. You are not one of us and you need not border yourself to try to convince anyone.
“As a result, if you can’t join us, PLEASE take your hands off our activities because it’s a slap on our face for you to give a nod for repair works to continue on the 48-inch pipeline at Forcados despite a stern warning by us for no one to go near the blast site”.
