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Militants threaten oil companies with all out war over soldiers’ invasion of Tompolo’s village

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The much expected peace in the Niger Delta may be a mirage as militants in the region have threatened a total action against oil companies.

Their grouse is over the invasion of Oporoza, the home town of ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, widely known as Tompolo, by soldiers.

Soldiers had reportedly invaded Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom on Saturday but were prevented from entering the community by protesting women who stood up to the soldiers of Operation Delta Safe.

Oporoza had been the subject of incessant invasion by soldiers who are combing the area for wanted militants who have been attacking oil facilities in the Niger Delta.

Read also:  Invading soldiers retreat as Gbaramatu women confront them

Tompolo, a respected native of the community has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over allegation of fraud and money laundering in his dealings with the Nigerian Maritime Safety and Administration Agency, NIMASA.

The attempted invasion of Oporoza was the second in two weeks. Three other communities of Gbaramatu were also invaded by the soldiers.

The militants, speaking through the leader of Niger Delta Peoples Democratic Front, ‘General’ Playboy, threatened to attack three central mosques in the Niger Delta if soldiers raid Tompolo’s residence again.

In a statement on Saturday, Playboy, expressed shock that even after President Muhammadu Buhari met with the Chief Edwin Clark led Pan Niger Delta Dialogue Team, soldiers could still invade Tompolo’s community.

Playboy said: “If it is true that his (Tompolo) house was raided, then President Buhari must stop it. If he does not stop, what we will do is to chase away oil companies in our land. We cannot be feeding Nigeria and at the same time be humiliated by Nigeria.”

By Timothy Enietan-Matthews …

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