There was anxiety in the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State in the early hours of Saturday as soldiers combed the community for ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, otherwise called Tompolo.
According to Punch, the fiercely-looking Joint Task Force operatives stormed the Oporoza community in the area with about five military gunboats around 1:30am
It was further gathered that the security operatives laid siege to the Guest House of the ex-leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta.
A source who spoke with Punch correspondent said the security operatives carted away documents and other valuable items from Tompolo’s Guest House.
Tompolo has been fingered as spearheading the new militant group, Niger Delta Avengers, which has been carrying out series of attacks on oil facilities across the Niger Delta region in the last few days.
Although, Tompolo, who is from Oporoza, has consistently denied any link with the group, attacks on oil facilities have gone unabated since a federal court in Lagos issued warrant of arrest against him over corruption charges.
A prominent Gbaramatu chief and head of Oporoza community identified as Aititi alias Burn, was said to have been injured when he tried to prevent the soldiers from entering his house.
Spokesman of the kingdom, Godspower Gbenekama, also confirmed the raid of the community, adding that there were reports of sporadic shooting in the community with many residents injured.
He said, “The soldiers arrested several youths. As of 9:30am on Saturday, there was still shooting in the community. We neither have members of the Niger Delta Avengers nor Tompolo in our communities.’’
According to Punch, the fiercely-looking Joint Task Force operatives stormed the Oporoza community in the area with about five military gunboats around 1:30am
It was further gathered that the security operatives laid siege to the Guest House of the ex-leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta.
A source who spoke with Punch correspondent said the security operatives carted away documents and other valuable items from Tompolo’s Guest House.
Tompolo has been fingered as spearheading the new militant group, Niger Delta Avengers, which has been carrying out series of attacks on oil facilities across the Niger Delta region in the last few days.
Although, Tompolo, who is from Oporoza, has consistently denied any link with the group, attacks on oil facilities have gone unabated since a federal court in Lagos issued warrant of arrest against him over corruption charges.
A prominent Gbaramatu chief and head of Oporoza community identified as Aititi alias Burn, was said to have been injured when he tried to prevent the soldiers from entering his house.
Spokesman of the kingdom, Godspower Gbenekama, also confirmed the raid of the community, adding that there were reports of sporadic shooting in the community with many residents injured.
He said, “The soldiers arrested several youths. As of 9:30am on Saturday, there was still shooting in the community. We neither have members of the Niger Delta Avengers nor Tompolo in our communities.’’