Showdown imminent as Tompolo’s militants relocate to creeks

It seems a showdown between Nigeria’s security forces and militants in the Niger Delta area is imminent as the ‘freedom fighters’ have relocated to the creeks with more attacks being carried out on oil facilities in the area.

Youths who carried out the attacks are believed to be supporters of ex-militant, Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo in apparent reaction to last Thursday’s order by a Federal High Court for the arrest of Tompolo in connection with an alleged N34billion fraud.

Reports say the latest attacks were launched with General Purpose Machine-guns (GPMG) by the youths in several boats, even as residents of the riverside communities said the militants paraded weapons more in number and sophistication than those used in previous crises.

In the latest attacks, the youths struck oil and gas pipelines in the creeks of Gbaramatu and Ugborodo areas of Warri South West local government areas of Delta state.

“The gas pipeline, which runs from Olero creeks to Escravos were destroyed in the latest attack. Several crude lines were sabotaged while Makaraba, Otunana (Uton-Nana), Abiteye and Dibi flow stations were bombed,” one source said.

“The pipeline, which conveys gas from Saghara to Chevron, was also destroyed and there are several persons trapped in the communities. “The kind of explosives and bombs they used are not like those of before; the effects were felt in several communities as they went off intermittently.”

Read also: Militants allegedly loyal to Tompolo bomb oil facilities in N’Delta

The facilities destroyed included those of the Nigerian Gas Company, Chevron NIGERIA Limited and NECONDE among others.
It was learnt that the attacks could spread to Bayelsa and other states of the region within days, as the perpetrators seemingly plan to cripple crude oil production and export.

Chevron Nigeria was forced to airlift its workers on Friday after militants blocked the waterways and restricted movement of transport boats. And although the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta was said to be fully prepared to deal with the onslaughts, the militants reportedly operated unhindered for several hours yesterday.

Although Tompolo said on Friday that he was not responsible for the first attacks, security sources insisted that he is directly controlling the operation along with some of his close allies and his nephew who reportedly led the destruction of oil facilities in Warri North LGA yesterday.

Sources said dozens of former militants had returned to the creeks of Warri in what is believed to be preparation for more onslaughts on oil facilities, security operatives and communities.

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now