I’ve nothing to do with Avengers – Tompolo

Embattled former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, on Monday denied sponsoring the Niger Delta Avengers, a militant group that has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta.

A statement issued by Tompolo’s spokesman, Paul Bebenimibo, who was also allegedly named as an operative of the group, described the report as ‘voodoo’.

A splitter group of the NDA, Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, had named former President Goodluck Jonathan, Tompolo, Bebenimibo and other prominent individuals as sponsors the Avengers, which have wreaked havoc on the country’s oil production.

But Bebenimibo, who is also the Secretary, Tompolo Foundation, raised the alarm that his life was in danger, saying that he had nothing to do with the militant group.

The statement explained that Tompolo has consistently denied his involvement with the Avengers.

“As for my boss (Tompolo), he has made it abundantly clear on many occasions that he has nothing to do with the Niger Delta Avengers.”

The statement reads in part, “In the same report, my boss, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, was also mentioned as one of the sponsors of the NDA.

“My initial decision was to ignore the said report as a result of the source and the bogus nature of the story. However, in order to set the records straight, I decided to write to dissociate my boss and myself from that wicked and malicious report.”

“I wish to advise the Nigerian government to look for better ways to resolve the Niger Delta problem, and not to continue to compound the issue by relying on voodoo means to resolve the issue, like this particular report which could be likened to a voodoo report.

“If some people, the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, have claimed to part ways with the NDA after destroying almost all the oil facilities in the Niger Delta region, they turned around to claim that they have repented and mentioned some people as sponsors and operatives of the NDA, then the government and people of this country need to know such people (RNDA) and treat them accordingly, and not the responsible Nigerians they mentioned as sponsors and operatives.”

Tompolo’s aide, who was accused of being an operative of the group, threatened a legal action against those behind the RNDA, stating “As it seems, some people are out there to kill me for what I know nothing about.

“Presently, I am afraid for my life. I want to urge the present administration to be serious with human life as it is the primary duty of any government to provide security for the citizens. The use of miscreants to implicate genuine Nigerians is a dangerous trend in this country, as such people are likely to suffer for what they do not know anything about.

“Therefore, the government should investigate some of these claims seriously to avoid miscarriage of judgement.”