Tompolo and ‘General Shoot at Sight’ planned Delta state pipeline bombings – ‘General Africa’ alleges

NEDU MARK
YENAGOA

A leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Africanus Ukparasia aka Gen Africa has alleged that embattled ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemopolo, aka Tompolo, planned the recent attacks on pipelines in Delta State “to send a message that they have the capacity to disrupt oil production and therefore cripple the economy of the country.”

Ukparasia, who released a statement in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital, in response to the position of some Ijaw elders, absolving Tompolo of complicity in the bombings, insisted that the plan to attack the oil installations was hatched in Ondo state stressing that “we are ready to assist the federal security agencies to fish Tompolo out from his hideout to face prosecution.”

Government had advised on the communities to hand over those responsible for the attacks on the pipelines to security agencies and though Tompolo has denied complicity in the attacks, many believe that they are a reaction to the court order that he should be arrested and brought to answer the case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Ukparasia, who said that the ongoing investigation by the Federal Government will officially unveil the true culprits behind the bomb attacks, noted, however, that preliminary investigations by the leaders in the region showed that the bomb attacks were planned in Ondo State by Tompolo and ‘General Shoot at Sight.’

Africanus who is also an ardent supporter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bayelsa state Chapter, insisted that the attack was carried out to send a signal to the Federal Government to withdraw the arrest warrant and discontinue the prosecution of Tompolo.

Africanus Ukparasia in the statement further alleged that “Tompolo was supplied with 19 (Nineteen) metal outboard boats, while Gen. Shoot at Sight was supplied with 6 (Six) metal outboard boats prepared in Ayetoro community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo state. The boats which are mounted with double 200 Horse-powered engines each cost Tompolo and Gen. Shoot at Sight N1.2 million naira without the engines.”

He claimed that “Tompolo and Shoot at Sight have been busy recruiting boys with the aim of causing widespread damage to the economy of the country and cause a resurgence of the armed struggle in the Niger Delta. The camp where the boys are currently being kept is located in Akanapu after Bolowo community and before Ajapa Town in Ese-Ode Local Government Area, Ondo State.”

He also alleged that the militia camp being set up by Tompolo and others is situated close to an Army check-point in the creek and that youths being sent to the camp are not allowed to go home or use phones and cameras in the camp to take pictures.”

Ukparasia warned that any attempt to commence another round of militancy in the Niger Delta was a selfish agenda and called on the security agencies to quell such immediately

“We warn Tompolo that this time around, he will not have the opportunity of hiding away from the federal forces in his vessel like he did the last time when the federal troops ordered by late President Yar’adua went after him.”

“We are ready to assist the federal security agencies to fish him out from his hideout to face prosecution.

“Tompolo has since defeated the purpose for taking up arms against the Federal Government in the first place, as he has chosen to pursue a selfish agenda by blowing-up pipelines, thereby degrading the already devastated environment to further impoverish the suffering masses of the region who depend on the environment for their daily bread,” he pointed out.