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Tag: Tompolo

  • Southsouth ex-lawmakers urges Tompolo to surrender

    Southsouth ex-lawmakers urges Tompolo to surrender

    Agroup of former Federal legislators from the Southsouth yesterday urged former General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), to surrender to the Federal Government and face the charges against him in court.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said it has a case against the former militant leader.

    Tompolo has gone into hiding as the bombing of crude oil and gas pipelines increased in the region.

    The group, Coalition of Southsouth Emeritus Legislators, urged those aggrieved in the region to embrace peace and channel their grievances through the Amnesty Office.

    The 11 former lawmakers of the House of Representatives addressed reporters in Abuja.

    Other members of the group are: Samson Osagie (Edo), Abubakar Momoh (Edo), Mike Ekpegule (Bayelsa), Patty Etete Ineme (Akwa Ibom).

    Others are: Christopher Enai (Bayelsa), Ehiogie West Idahosa (Edo), Alex Ukam (Cross River), Promise Abibo (Rivers) and Ikperikpe Ekpo (Akwa Ibom).

    Mercy Almona-Isei (Delta) said: “Already, the Federal Government has instituted an agency as a window of opportunity for all aggrieved people from that region to ventilate their grievances in any way; that is the Office of the Amnesty Programme.

    “…That office has been engaging the people of the region. Some have benefited from one form of training or the other. If anything has arisen that would create this type of confusion or anger among the people, we expect that we should use that platform to get back whatever they feel they are denied of.”

    On Tompolo, she said: “Against that background, we are calling on our own son, our brother, who is being called by the government to come and answer any question. He should come out as a gentleman and as a true son of Niger Delta.

    “He should come out and give his side of the story. We all know that nobody is presumed guilty until proven so. So, I think rather than pull down the trees in the region because of one person, we believe that he should be man enough. He should be a patriot that he is; he should be nationalistic and come out to answer to whatever he is being accused of.

    “For those who are going to destroy our national assets, we believe they shouldn’t allow anybody to misguide them, mislead them. They should channel their grievances to the Amnesty Office.”

    Reading the position of the group, Halims Agoda (Delta) noted that the former lawmakers were saddened by the recent happenings in the region.

    He said: “We are saddened by the news of the recent bombing of crude oil and gas pipelines in parts of Niger Delta.

    “While condemning the renewed vandalisation of oil and gas facilities in the zone, we use this medium to call on persons – severally or individually or group – involved in these acts to desist forthwith.

    “It is our belief that the only productive means to actualising or redressing perceived injustice, inequality or unfair deals, is through dialogue. It has worked before and it remains the only sure way to consensus building, the sine qua non for the much needed development of the region.

    “…We, the members of the coalition of Southsouth Emeritus Legislatures, wish to unequivocally declare our unflinching support for Federal Government’s effort to promote the sustainable development of the Southsouth. This definitely is a new dawn.”

  • South- south group urges Tompolo to surrender

    A group of former federal legislators from the South-south geopolitical zone on Wednesday urged former General Officer Commanding, (GOC) of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo to surrender to the government and face his trial.

    Following the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission case against him, Tompolo has gone into hiding, while crude oil and gas pipelines have been bombed in the region.

    Rather than attract the wrath of the Federal Government for bombing of oil facilities in the area, the Coalition of South-south Emeritus Legislators also urged those aggrieved in the region to embrace peace and channel their grievances through the amnesty office.

    The group comprising 11 ex-members of the House of Representatives briefed journalists in Abuja.

    Rt. Hon. Mercy Almona-Isei (Delta) said: “Already the federal government has instituted an agency as a window of opportunity for all aggrieved people from that region to come and ventilate their grievances in any way and that is the office of the amnesty programme.

    “And already that particular office has been engaging the people from this region. Some have benefited from one form of training or the other.

    “And if anything has arisen that will create this type of confusion or anger within the people, we expect that we should use that platform to get back whatever they feel they are denied of.”

    On Tompolo, she added: “Against that background, we are calling on our own son, our brother, who is being called by the government to come and answer any question. He should come out as a gentleman and as a true son of the Niger Delta region.

    “He should come out and give his own part of the story. We all know that nobody is presumed guilty until you are proven so. So I think rather than pull down the trees in the whole region because of one person, we believe that he should be man enough, he should be a patriot that he is, he should be nationalistic and come out to answer to whatever he is being accused of.”

     

  • Alleged N22b fraud: EFCC charges Tompolo in Lagos

    Alleged N22b fraud: EFCC charges Tompolo in Lagos

    Ex-NIMASA boss, brothers face money laundering allegations 

    The Federal Government has filed fresh criminal charges against a former Niger Delta militant leader, Chief Government Oweize Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), involving about N22,765,900,000.

    The new charge, filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos, borders on stealing, advanced fee fraud and money laundering.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed the 22-count charge against Tompolo and 12 others.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba had, on January 14, ordered Tompolo’s arrest.

    The judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to report in court to face a prior criminal charge against him.

    The judge had, a day earlier, summoned Tompolo, but the accused did not turn up.

    EFCC’s lawyer Festus Keyamo said Tompolo ignored previous invitations by EFCC during investigation.

    Others accused in the first charge include a former Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi; Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, Odimiri Electricals Limited, Kemi Engozu, Boloboere Property and Estate Limited, Rex Elem, Destre Consult Limited, Gregory Mbonu and Captain Warredi Enisuoh.

    EFCC, in the 40-count charge, said the suspects allegedly diverted N34 billion, which accrued from the public private partnership agreement between NIMASA and Global West Vessel  Specialist Limited for personal use.

    The alleged offence contravenes Section 15 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

    In the 22-count charge, Tompolo will face trial along with Akpobolokemi, whose four brothers – Victor, Nobert, Emmanuel and Clement – said to be at large, allegedly aided the suspects to commit the fraud.

    The other suspects are  Kime Engozu, Josephine Otuaga, Rita Uruakpa and Pondi Kestin as well as seven companies – Mieka Dive Training Institute Ltd/GTE, Oyeinteke Global Network Ltd, Wabod Global Resources Ltd, Boloboere Properties Estate Ltd, Gokaid Marine Oil and Gas Ltd, Muhaabix Global Services Ltd and Watershed Associated Resources.

    They were accused of  converting various sums running into over N22.7bn allegedly stolen from NIMASA to their personal use between December 12, 2014 and April 10, 2015.

    They were also accused of defrauding the Federal Government by making representations, which they knew to be false.

    EFCC said the alleged offences contravene Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3)of the same Act.

    The suspects also allegedly violated various sections of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012, including its sections 15(3) and 18(a) and are liable to punishment under Section 15(3) of the same Act, the commission said.

    They were said to be liable to punishment under Section 1 (2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

    In count two, the EFCC alleged that the suspects “between the 2nd day of December, 2014 and 10th April,2015 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, with intent to defraud, induced the Federal Government to deliver to you, the aggregate sum of N11, 900,000,000.00 by falsely pretending to the Federal Government that all that land and its appurtenances lying, being and situate at Mieka Dive Training Institute, Kurutie, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, to be acquired by NIMASA for the temporary Campus of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Warri South-West Local Government Area, is free from any encumbrances, which representation you knew to be false, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section (1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1 (3)of the same Act.”

  • NLC condemns blowing-up of pipelines in Niger-Delta

    NLC condemns blowing-up of pipelines in Niger-Delta

    The Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) on Sunday in Abuja condemned the renewed blowing-up of major oil and gas pipelines by suspected militants in the Niger-Delta region.

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC President, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the issue of national security should not be taken lightly. “Pipeline vandalism is highly condemnable; this should not be allowed to happen in a civilized society,’’ he said.

    According to him, oil and gas pipeline vandalism will contribute largely to the air and water pollution of the region and reduce the revenue base of the country. Wabba said that pipeline vandalism was a threat to national security; therefore, the issue should not be taken lightly.

    He advised the Niger-Delta militants to engage in dialogue with the Federal Government rather than confrontation in resolving issues. He urged the Federal Government to sustain the amnesty programme as it would serve as a means of addressing some of the challenges in the region.

    “I hope that the renewed blowing-up of major oil and gas pipelines is not as a result of the ongoing probe of some political leaders in the region.

    “ Our call is that the government should remain focus in its fight against corruption and it should not be tired by whatever pressure.

    “We also want to appreciate what the security agencies have been able to do in terms of protecting the pipelines in the region, they should put in more efforts to contain the crisis, ”Wabba said.

    He assured Nigerians that the NLC would give its support to the Federal Government to protect important installations in the region and the country at large.

  • APC chieftain to Tompolo: Surrender yourself to EFCC

    APC chieftain to Tompolo: Surrender yourself to EFCC

    •Demands apology from Timi Frank
    •’I’m not ready to apologise’

    Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Prince Arerebo Bodi, yesterday asked  Tompolo to submit himself to the anti graft agency, the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for questioning.

    Bodi said Tompolo should honour his invitation by the commission instead of blaming former Bayelsa Governor, Timipre Sylva and other chieftains of the party in the State for his ordeal.

    Bodi, who is a member of APC Elders Forum in Bayelsa, spoke in Abuja yesterday.

    His Words: “All what Tompolo has been saying about Timipre Sylva and leadership of the APC in Bayelsa state is fraud.

    “For Tompolo to accuse Sylva and APC leaders in the state of orchestrating pipeline vandalism in Delta is false.

    “And the allegation that Sylva wanted to get ministerial position from the president and he did not go with him to visit the President and that’s why there is pipe line vandalism is also false.

    “Tompolo should make himself available to the EFCC.

    “Let the law take its course and if he refuses to submit himself to the commission he should be declared wanted.”

    Speaking on the APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Timi Frank?, the party chieftain demanded an apology by Frank for disparaging Bayelsa APC.

    “Timi Frank owes the Bayelsa APC a very big apology. He should come down to APC in Bayelsa state and apologise. Otherwise, we know what to do.”

    In his reaction, Frank said, he was not ready to apologise to the party chieftains.

    He queried credibility of the party chieftains, asking them to put their house in order.

    “I am not ready to apologise. It was their misconduct and stubbornness that put us in this dilemma in Bayelsa State.”

     

  • Tompolo must face the law, Presidency tells Clark, Ijaw youths

    Tompolo must face the law, Presidency tells Clark, Ijaw youths

    The Presidency yesterday assured the Ijaw that it has nothing against them and therefore has no intention whatsoever harass or persecute them.

    But it warned that whoever violates the law should be ready to face the consequences.

    The Presidency was responding to suggestion by Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, that the Buhari administration is harassing his people.

    He cited the trial of ex-militant leader Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo for theft and money laundering and the cancellation of the proposed Maritime University in Delta State.

    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) expressed similar sentiments yesterday.

    Speaking to The Nation on the phone last night, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said it was untrue to say the administration is out to punish any ethnic group in the country.

    He said: “Anybody who is a follower of events in the country knows that this administration persecutes nobody.

    “The administration is just asking all Nigerians to do the right thing and anybody that goes contrary to the law will answer, irrespective of where the person comes from.

    “So if anybody says a particular group is being targeted for attack or assault or persecution, right thinking Nigerians know that that is not true.”

    Chief Clark in the open letter to Buhari described Tompolo as a gentleman who could not have been responsible for the recent pipeline attacks in Delta State.

    He said: “In the course of my interactions with these militant leaders, I discovered that Tompolo is one of the most responsible and peace-loving militant leaders. This was also observed by the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and late President Umaru Musa Ya’Ardua.

    “That was also one of the reasons why during one of the discussions I had with the former President, Chief Obasanjo in February, 2007, he said to me that he learnt that Tompolo was not well educated, that he was wondering what appointment or position could be given to him to keep him engaged and to effect permanent peace in the area.

    “I suggested to him that because of his (Tompolo’s) dexterity, he should for a payment, be engaged to provide surveillance for the oil pipelines and supervise oil installations together with his colleagues in the various communities.”

    He condemned the pipeline vandalization that trailed the arrest order issued against Tompolo last week by a Federal High Court in Lagos after the ex-militant failed to show up to answer charges for theft and money laundering.

    Clark said the perpetrators of the sabotage should “be fished out and punished for their actions.”

    He added: “On the other hand, however, whilst not making a case for Tompolo, I do not think that he will be part of such dastardly acts.

    “Mr. President should please take time and look at the indices of cases of pipeline vandalism between 2014 and today.

    “I will plead with Mr. President to investigate this matter and treat it strategically.”

    Clark faulted government’s decision to discontinue work on the Nigerian Maritime University.

    The take-off campus for the university, Mieka Dive Training Institute Limited/Gte, was sold to government for N13 billion

    Clark said: “Tompolo is one of the owners of Mieka Dive Training Institute Limited/Gte. The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) entered into an agreement with the institute to purchase the institute covering an expanse of 6.597 hectares of well sand-filled land together with all the structures thereon, for the sum of N13,072,564,822.00 (thirteen billion, seventy two million, five hundred & sixty four thousand, eight hundred & twenty two naira only), as the take-off campus for the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko.”

    He said: “This legitimate transaction was approved by the Federal Executive Council at its 34th Executive Council, EC; meeting presided over by the former President, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.”

    Clark took exception to a statement by Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi who was quoted as saying: “who will attend the university (Maritime University)? How many parents will allow their children to go to such place where it proposed to site the university…”

    The Ijaw leader said: “If this statement is true, it is very insulting, callous and vindictive on the people by Mr. Rotimi Amaechi. It is all aimed at executing his plans of personal vendetta against the people of the Niger Delta.

    “This is unacceptable to the people. I strongly advise him to retrace his steps and reconcile with the people. He is appointed as Minister to represent Rivers State (Niger Delta people), based on constitutional provision.”

    Apparently taking a cue from Chief Clark’s open letter the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) yesterday accused the Federal Government of singling out their ethnic group for persecution and asked President Muhammadu Buhari to arrest the situation.

    IYC spokesman, Eric Omare, told AFP: “Our position is that due process should be followed. We support an anti-corruption war that is done within the ambit of the law.

    “We seriously oppose selective prosecution and political victimization.”

    The IYC condemned the pipeline vandalization but also claimed that the military had invaded several Ijaw communities in Delta State, destroying properties and causing injuries.

    “The Ijaw people are not at war with the federal government. We call on the military to exercise restraint in their actions. There is no basis to attack innocent villagers,” said Omare.

  • N34b: Why I’ve not gone to court, by Tompolo

    N34b: Why I’ve not gone to court, by Tompolo

    •Take your defence to the judge, says Keyamo
    •Ex-MEND leader disowns attacks on pipelines

    A Leader of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpemupolo, has explained why he has not appeared in court on the alleged N34 billion fraud, for which an order of arrest was issued on him.

    Ekpemupolo, in an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, said he has nothing to do with the matter in court. He blamed his refusal to appear in court on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), its lawyer Festus Keyamo and some ex-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He accused ex-Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva of being after him.

    Tompolo said: “The truth of the matter is that I do not know anything about the N34 billion Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is talking about. First, it was N13 billion issue, now it is N34 billion.

    “I am not a signatory to any of the companies mentioned in the said N34 billion case, so I do not know where this one is coming from.

    “I know that God in His infinite mercy will see me through in this critical moment.”

    The letter sent to our reporter yesterday by his media aide, Comrade Paul Bebenimbo, accused the EFCC and its team of lawyers of using the case for personal vendetta against him.

    Tompolo, who is accused of being behind destruction of oil facilities in Delta State, urged President Buhari to be wary of some of his party members in the Niger Delta, particularly those who left the PDP for the APC.

    He said: “They (APC members) are the ones carrying out the act to smear my name. They are doing this in connivance with the EFCC lawyer, who is also a member of your party, who is in the forefront of prosecuting me because I refused to buy a property from him.”

    “As for the EFCC lawyer, he approached me some years back that I should come to Abuja and Lagos to buy some choice property worth billions of naira from him. I told him that I do not have such money to buy property.

    “Since then he has been looking for any opportunity to drag me into matters I do not know anything about. And this is one of the reasons why I have not appeared in the court because he is not qualified to prosecute me,” he added.

    But Keyamo, when contacted, waved off Tompolo’s vendetta claim, stressing that the case was not a personal issue.

    He urged Tompolo to take his defence to the law court.

    On the ex-governor, he said: “I wish to inform you that it has come to my knowledge that the leader of your party and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa and a few young men from Warri South West council of Delta State, who joined the party from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after the 2015 presidential election, are bent on linking me to the renewed vandalism of oil facilities in the Niger Delta, whereas they are the ones carrying out the act to smear my name. They are doing this in connivance with the EFCC lawyer.

    “The leader of your party in Bayelsa State approached me shortly after my meeting with you in Abuja that I should accompany him to meet you and plead for him to be appointed special adviser (SA) and chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, which I refused to do because of his antecedents, as an unreliable and trustworthy person.

    “It was thereafter he forced his way into the governorship election of the state, which almost tore the state apart with violence, beginning with the party primary in which he demonstrated a high level of desperation as was recounted by the Chairman of the committee and Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

    “As for members of the party from my local government area, Warri South-West, they have been involved in illegal bunkering and oil theft activities over the years, which I have been fighting against because of my love for country. They know me as a no-nonsense person. There is this one from Gbaramatu kingdom with me that has sworn to kill me because I refused to manipulate the ascension to our traditional stool in his favour when he was not even qualified for it. And so, he looks for any opportunity to deal with me.’’

  • I know nothing about NIMASA N4bn – Tompolo

    I know nothing about NIMASA N4bn – Tompolo

    Former MEND leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo has denied involvement in the alleged N34 billion NIMASA fraud.

    The denial was contained in an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, which Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) personally signed on Sunday.

    He said, “The truth of the matter is that I do not know anything about the 34 billion naira EFCC is talking about. First, it was 13 billion naira (N13bn) issue, now it is 34 billion naira (N34bn).

    “I am not a signatory to any of the companies mentioned in the said N34bn case, so I do not know where this one is coming from.”

  • Troops storm militants’ den, foil attack on more facilities

    Troops storm militants’ den, foil attack on more facilities

    A combined military task force on Sunday launched a manhunt for Chief Government Ekpemupolo (also known as Tompolo), his associates and other believed to be masterminds of attacks on crude production and export from the Warri area of Delta State.

    It was gathered that at least one suspect was arrested in connection with the attacks.

    The gang had hit major gas and crude oil trunk lines, including the major Escravos-Warri-Lagos-Abuja gas trunk line of the Nigerian Gas Company and several platforms of oil multinationals operating in the region.

    Plans to hit more oil facilities, including the Opumami location of Con Oil Limited, on Sunday morning were foiled by the security operatives.

    The latest violence in the region began after a Federal High Court issued an arrest order on Tompolo who failed to appear in court for trial on a N34bn fraud.

  • NIGER DELTA MILITANTS ATTACK MORE OIL FACILITIES

    NIGER DELTA MILITANTS ATTACK MORE OIL FACILITIES

    •Chevron may shut down operations
    •Ex-militants regroup, move into creeks

    The Niger Delta region moved closer to armed hostilities yesterday following more attacks on oil facilities by youths believed to be supporters  of  ex-militant Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo).

    The latest attacks were launched with General Purpose Machine-guns (GPMG) by youths in several boats.

    They were apparently reacting to last Thursday’s order by a Federal High Court for the arrest of Tompolo in connection with an alleged N34billion fraud.

    Residents of the riverside communities said the militants paraded weapons more in number and sophistication than those used in previous crises.

    Oil and gas pipelines in the creeks of Gbaramatu and Ugborodo areas of Warri South West and those in Egbema, North local government areas respectively of Delta state were struck in yesterday’s attacks.

    “The gas pipeline, which runs from Olero creeks to Escravos were destroyed in the latest attack. Several crude lines were sabotaged while Makaraba, Otunana (Uton-Nana), Abiteye and Dibi flow stations were bombed,” one source said.

    “The pipeline, which conveys gas from Saghara to Chevron, was also destroyed and there are several persons trapped in the communities. “The kind of explosives and bombs they used are not like those of before; the effects were felt in several communities as they went off intermittently.”

    The facilities destroyed included those of the Nigerian Gas Company, Chevron NIGERIA Limited and NECONDE among others.

    It was learnt that the attacks could spread to Bayelsa and other states of the region within days, as the perpetrators plan to cripple crude oil production and export.

    There were indications that some operations of Chevron Nigeria were disrupted in the latest attacks.

    The company was forced to airlift its workers on Friday after militants blocked the waterways and restricted movement of transport boats, including Chevron’s Jascon transport boat.

    Although the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta was said to be fully prepared to deal with the onslaughts, the militants operated unhindered for several hours yesterday.

    It was gathered that the attacks started in the wee hours of the day.

    “The sheer force of the explosion shook several communities and there were several explosions. There is panic everywhere and the waterways have again been taken over by armed gangs.”

    The Joint Media Campaign Centre Coordinator of the JTF, Col Isa Ado, could not be reached.

    Telephone calls and SMS to his mobile lines were not answered. Tompolo said on Friday that he was not responsible for the first attacks.

    However, security sources insisted that he is directly controlling the operation along with some of his close allies and his nephew who reportedly led the destruction of oil facilities in Warri North LGA yesterday.

    Sources said dozens of former militants had returned to the creeks of Warri  in what is believed to be preparation for more onslaughts on oil facilities, security operatives and communities.

    Similarly, it was learnt that sophisticated arms and ammunition were deployed.

    A source familiar with the terrain said: “Boats are freely moving in and out of (an Ijaw community) with guns and other weapons.   “Boys are coming in from all over the region and they are being given their assignments and directives.  “There is a stockpile of arms and petrol and boats are being fueled intermittently.

    “This is not an ordinary operation, it is well planned and there seems to be several options and alternative plans.”

    Residents of the riverside communities, comprising mostly women and children continued the flight for safety in upland communities like Warri, Sapele and Ogbe-Ijoh, among others.  Some of the fleeing locals lamented that although they did not benefit from the largesse from militancy, they are made to face its consequences always.

    “We are tired of running like this always. In 2009, it was because of the killing of soldiers. Today, it is because of Tompolo and EFCC.

    We didn’t benefit from the NIMASA money, there were individuals who got billions, others millions but how much did we get? Nothing! Yet we are the ones who are always the victims,” a middle-aged woman lamented in smattering English.

    Similarly, it was gathered that some Gbaramatu leaders have called Tompolo to caution him about the implications of engaging in a full blown war with federal forces.

    It was gathered that at least 10 very high- ranking traditional titleholders have distanced themselves from the attacks.

    “Most of our leaders are too afraid to speak out while others cannot talk because they are benefiting one way or the other,” a youth leader told our reporter on condition that he would not be named.