Militants vow more attacks on oil facilities over Tompolo

By The Citizen

Niger Delta militants on Saturday vowed to blow up more oil facilities in the region if the Federal Government fail to drop the charges against a former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared Tompolo wanted in February over an alleged N45.9bn fraud and charged him to court in absentia.

The leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Democratic Front, General Playboy, urged the Federal Government to leave Tompolo and any indigene from the oil-rich region alone.

The militant leader, in an email, decried the raid of Gbaramatu Kingdom by soldiers, adding that soldiers never raided communities in the North in search of Boko Haram members.

He also said theĀ  government must apologise to Tompolo over the death of his (Tompolo) father.

He said, 'You (Federal Government) are coming to Gbaramatu Kingdom in search of militants; how many communities in the North-East have you raided in search of Boko Haram?

'We have said it before now that we will not stop bombing until the Federal Government drops charges against Tompolo and any indigene of Niger Delta, and apologise to Tompolo over the death of his father, who soldiers have killed.

'Let me use this medium to warn the Federal Government that if anything should happen to former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, President Muhammadu (Buhari) will see our true colours.'

General Playboy also said there was a need for government to begin the clean-up of Ogoniland and other parts of the Niger Delta region before December 1, 2016.

'We urge that Ogoni cleansing should be handled by Niger Delta indigenous companies. It is painful that our Niger Delta states cannot pay salaries while Lagos State can pay. Why should Lagos State be richer than Delta State if not for the neglect?

'We are urging all Niger Delta governors to come together and let us fight because we need development in our land. All our states should have a tourist attraction like the Obudu cattle ranch,' the militant leader added. - Punch.