Ex-militants under the under the auspices of the Leadership Peace and Cultural Development Initiative have dissociated themselves from recent bombings of oil and gas pipelines in the Niger Delta region.
There are security reports that Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo, was involved in the recent destruction of oil installations in the Niger Delta region.
According to The Punch, the group in a signed statement on Friday, January 22, by their leader, Chief Reuben Wilson, absolved themselves, including Chief Government Ekpemupolo, better known as Tompolo from the renewed bombings of oil and gas installations in the region as recently experienced in Delta state.
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“What happened was not carried out by ex-militants. The world should not label the ex-militants with evil deeds. These attacks were carried out by criminal elements, ” the group said.
Adding that: “Some people claim Tompolo did it but he has come out to clear himself. Tompolo is a man known for his words. If he is involved in such things, he will come out open to say it and give reasons. But he is not behind these recent attacks.”
Wilson said the direction the issue of the attack was heading made it important for the ex-militant leaders from the Ijaw and Itsekiri extractions to come out to express concern, The Sun reports.
He denounced the era of violence in the Niger Delta, adding that the ex-militant leaders cannot send anybody to blow pipeline.
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He said: “We call on the Federal Government to integrate the ex-militant leaders into the protection and surveillance of oil pipelines in the region.
“The ex-militant leaders have important role to play with their knowledge of the creeks and water channels. Because we don’t carry arms, we expect that such security job will involve the security personnel.”
Recall that attack on the pipelines began shortly after a high court issued a bench warrant on Tompolo after failing to appear to answer charges of money laundering and fraud leveled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali has already led a team of Defence chiefs to the site of the pipeline sabotage in Warri South, Delta state and vowed to deal with those behind the attacks.
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