Niger Delta Avengers' Attacks: Nigerian military storms Tompolo's home base, Gbaramatu Kingdom

Following the heightened attacks on oil industry installations in the Niger Delta, the threats by militants to bomb major cities in the country, and break up Nigeria, heavily armed soldiers in two gunboats invaded Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu kingdom in Delta State in the early hours of yesterday.

Oporoza is the home base of ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo.

According to the Acting Secretary of Gbaramatu Traditional Council, Chief Godspower Gbenekema, the soldiers arrived at the community around 12:30 a.m.

He said: “The soldiers entered the town while some took positions near the gunboats. The villagers took to their heels for fear of being shot at by the soldiers because they have witnessed such an invasion in the past. They didn’t sleep throughout the night. We really don’t know what the army is looking for.

“If the president has ordered the military to crush the militants why not go after the culprits who have claimed responsibility for the attack on pipelines? We are worried and urging the military to be professional.

“The so-called Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has claimed responsibility for the attacks and we see no reason for the army to invade Ijaw communities.”

He said that the Ijaw people were not happy the militants were attacking Chevron facilities, the only oil firm operating in Ijaw areas, saying such an attack had affected the economic life and well-being of the residents . He warned the militants groups to desist from such attacks.

He said some enemies of Gbaramatu wanted the military to invade the kingdom by always blackmailing the kingdom and Tompolo of being behind such attacks.


President Buhari Promises to Exterminate Militants
President Muhammadu Buhari monday restated his determination to deal squarely with insurgents wherever they are in the country, promising that his administration would ensure the continued existence of Nigeria.

His threat came as the military invaded Oporoza community, the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State in search of members of the Niger Delta Avengers who had claimed responsibility for the spate of vandalism of oil and gas facilities in the state and threatened to extend their attacks to major cities in the country.
Gbaramatu Kingdom is also the hometown of Government Ekpemupolo, better known as Tompolo, who is a fugitive of the law.

Speaking at the Emir of Katsina’s palace during his four-day official visit to his home state, Buhari recalled that the nation was embroiled in a 30-month civil war in the late 1960s leading to the colossal loss of lives and properties in the bid to ensure its unity.

The president charged traditional rulers across the country to spearhead the campaign for peaceful and harmonious co-existence among the diverse socio-political groups in the country.