SOLDIERS from the military joint task force Operation Delta Safe have raided Oporoza the traditional headquarters of the Gbaramatu people and hometown of popular Niger Delta militant Chief Government Ekpemupolo popularly known as Tompolo in search of him.
Wanted in questioning with his role in the receipt of funds for pipeline protection contracts during the Goodluck administration, Tompolo has been on the run since early this year. He has refused to answer calls by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to appear at their offices and has subsequently been declared wanted.
Since then soldiers have been searching for him and yesterday, troops raided his village for the second time in two weeks as part of the pursuit. According to eyewitness reports, the soldiers who besieged their area in five gunboats around 9.20am also invaded another community in the Warri South West Council Area of Delta State.
However, the raid on Oporoza might not be unconnected with the renewed attacks on oil facilities around the Batan area of Delta State. Following the troops’ invasion of the area, many residents fled and took cover in the bush.
After the raid, the troops left for another neighbouring community, Tebijor and carried out a similar operation, when they could not arrest any of their targets at Oporoza. Gbaramatu leader and national coordinator of the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, Sheriff Mulade, confirmed the incident, adding that many of the people who fled into the bush for cover including women and children had not been seen as of 3.45pm on Saturday.
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