A threat to Tompolo is a threat to us all —Ijaw youths

A faction of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) led by Mr. Pereotubo Oweilaemi on Friday described any action against ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, as an action against the Ijaw nation.

This is coming as a militant group in the region, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), had while announcing the end of its ceasefire on attacks on oil installation in the region renounced Tompolo, and claims by some militant groups that Tompolo is behind NDA.

Tompolo has remained a fugitive since early 2016 when he was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged failure to appear in court to defend himself of alleged corruption.

But in a statement on Friday, Oweilaemi urged the militants he described as laptop fraudsters masquerading as militants in the region to leave Tompolo alone.

“For the umpteenth time, the Ijaw nation is appealing to the laptop fraudsters masquerading as militants in the region to leave High Chief Government Ekpemupolo alone. They can engage in whatsoever business they so desire for the perpetration of their criminal agenda, but Tompolo’s name should not be dragged in. The Ijaw nation is standing behind him.

“We cannot sacrifice Tompolo this time around unlike the way our forefathers unknowingly sacrificed Maj. Jasper Isaac Adaka Boro to the oppressive Federal Government, which had led to his untimely death in 1968 in the cause of fighting for the survival of the Ijaw nation in Nigeria.

“Tompolo has not done anything bad to be facing the travails he is going through. His only sin we know is because of his resolve to fight for the survival of the oppressed, dejected and criminally marginalised/colonised Niger Delta people in Nigeria.

“The Ijaw nation in particular should be grateful to have a son like him. A threat to Tompolo’s life is a threat to the Ijaw nation,” he said.

The IYC president had also on Friday called on soldiers in search of members of the NDA to stop harassing innocent riverine dwellers.

He said, “IYC has been duly informed that soldiers from Operation Delta Safe in the name of looking for NDA are harassing innocent villagers in Warri South West and Burutu Local Government Areas of Delta state.

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“We acknowledged that the military is constitutionally bound to checkmate criminal activities in the creeks or anywhere in Nigeria. However, the discharge of its responsibilities is not without limits. The military must draw a line between discharging its functions and breaching human rights.

“It is unheard of for the military to be terrorising innocent communities under the guise of looking for Avengers whose whereabouts remain a misery to the ordinary man. The people of Beneth Island in Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom, Ogulagha community and Gbaramatu Kingdom, to the best of our knowledge did not harbour the so-called Avengers. Disrupting the peace of these innocent communities… is to say the least an unprofessional propaganda.

“If there is any criminal in those communities, let the military get the person arrested, but we cannot accept calling the people in Ogbe-Ijoh, Ogulagha and Gbaramatu Kingdoms Avengers.

He assured that IYC was ready to collaborate with security agencies for the onerous task of securing lives and property in region, “but that can only happen if the military adhere to the rules of engagement.”

 

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