Fall out of  Tompolo’s Arrest: Militants blow up oil in Niger Delta.

Armed Youths in Delta state yesterday blew up strategic pipeline in the Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta state in what some residents feared to be a reaction to Thursday’s court order for the arrest of ex militant Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo by security operatives.

Ex-militant Government Ekpemupolo with one of his warships purchased for safe guarding Nigerian waters under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan blew up several oil installations between Ikpokpo and Odidi flow stations mostly in Gbaramatu kingdom, just hours after a federal High court in Lagos ordered operatives to arrest Ekpemupolo in connection with an alleged 34bilion fraud.

The development sparked fresh tension in Tomoplo’s Gbaramutu sphere of influence..

The explosion started shortly before midnight and raged till the early hours of yesterday .Hundreds residents of the riverside  communities were fleeing their homes yesterday for fear that fresh hostilities might break up out between militants and soldiers on account of blowing the pipelines.

Odidi flow stations were said to be on fire at press time as resident of the riverside communities confirm that smoke filled the air.

“ A trunk line was blown up with suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the early hours of  today and there report of armed gangs mobililising as early as 11 am on Thursday and commenced the destruction of oil installations on Friday.

Several Explosions were also heard across the communities in Warri South West as bombs were going off, shots were being fired sporadically. we do not know if anybody was killed but the shooting was much and it continued for several hours.

In his reaction through his media aide, Paul Bebenimibo, ex- warlord has since denied his involvement in the attack.

“I am not responsible for the attack and I condemn it as a dastardly act.I am aware that some persons may want to destroy oil installations and link me with it, that was why I said before time that I have nothing to do with it.

“I could not have gone ahead to carry out such dastardly act knowing that every finger would be pointed at me because of my case with the Federal Government. Tompolo further said that he is willing to help Federal Government operative in fishing out the perpetrators of the attacks and bring them to justice.

Source: Maxwell Olusegun Adegbenro.