NIGERIA: Ex-Militant Tompolo's Warships Causes Unease Between Niger Delta Groups
The Warri study group has demanded the cancelation of the contract awarded to Global West Vessel Service to secure Nigerian coastline citing...
http://www.africaeagle.com/2014/12/nigeria-ex-militant-tompolos-warships.html
The Warri study group has demanded the cancelation of the contract awarded to Global West Vessel Service to secure Nigerian coastline citing Tompolo as a threat to national security.
The Warri based group was reacting yesterday to news that one-time militant leader, Chief Ekpemupolo, a.k.a Tompolo has acquired seven decommissioned Norwegian battleships.
In a statement released by Edward Ekpoko, Chairman, and Tony Ede, Secretary, the WSG noted that if the reports that the fast-speed Hulk-class guided missile boats had been re-armed with new weaponry, purportedly to fight piracy, then Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gun powder.
The report read “Tompolo was a known militant granted amnesty by the Yar Adua administration and controls the private company engaged by NIMASA to oversee the security of the Nigerian coastline during Jonathan’s administration.
“President Jonathan, Tompolo and the DG of NIMASA are all of Ijaw extraction. We see a script being acted out. Nigeria is the only country where an individual is awarded contract to oversee the security of the coastline of a nation with powers to import warships and sophisticated arms. “The question that begs for answer is this: What is the role of the Nigerian Navy in the security of the Nigerian coastline? Is the Ministry of Defence aware of all these arms deals?”
It cited that since a year after the contract was awarded, illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalization and sea-piracy been on the increase, perceived threat by Tompolo and his kinsmen has equally gone up.
“Are these warships and arm deals to fight piracy and other criminal activities on our coastline or to intimidate other ethnic nationalities or cause destabilization as in the North East?”, the WSG queried.
They warned Jonathan to cancel the contract given to NIMASA, warning, “ In the unfortunate event of weapons being turned against other ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta, those involved will be held responsible for crime against humanity by the international community even if Nigerian government fails to act.”
According to an Abuja based security expert, “It is very shameful that the Presidency would open itself to clanish insinuations. Just last month, this same former militant of Ijaw extraction threatened everyone and President Jonathan, a fellow Ijaw, endorsed the threat by canceling a scheduled presidential engagement in Delta State. Today, the story is about an individual from Ijaw nation doing the work of the Nigeria Navy. Such acts would only further serve to demoralize the military”.
Tompolo is said to have acquired these warship through a British company who acted as a face to buy the weapons, which have all been re-armoured.
Source: Naij
The Warri based group was reacting yesterday to news that one-time militant leader, Chief Ekpemupolo, a.k.a Tompolo has acquired seven decommissioned Norwegian battleships.
In a statement released by Edward Ekpoko, Chairman, and Tony Ede, Secretary, the WSG noted that if the reports that the fast-speed Hulk-class guided missile boats had been re-armed with new weaponry, purportedly to fight piracy, then Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gun powder.
The report read “Tompolo was a known militant granted amnesty by the Yar Adua administration and controls the private company engaged by NIMASA to oversee the security of the Nigerian coastline during Jonathan’s administration.
“President Jonathan, Tompolo and the DG of NIMASA are all of Ijaw extraction. We see a script being acted out. Nigeria is the only country where an individual is awarded contract to oversee the security of the coastline of a nation with powers to import warships and sophisticated arms. “The question that begs for answer is this: What is the role of the Nigerian Navy in the security of the Nigerian coastline? Is the Ministry of Defence aware of all these arms deals?”
It cited that since a year after the contract was awarded, illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalization and sea-piracy been on the increase, perceived threat by Tompolo and his kinsmen has equally gone up.
“Are these warships and arm deals to fight piracy and other criminal activities on our coastline or to intimidate other ethnic nationalities or cause destabilization as in the North East?”, the WSG queried.
They warned Jonathan to cancel the contract given to NIMASA, warning, “ In the unfortunate event of weapons being turned against other ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta, those involved will be held responsible for crime against humanity by the international community even if Nigerian government fails to act.”
According to an Abuja based security expert, “It is very shameful that the Presidency would open itself to clanish insinuations. Just last month, this same former militant of Ijaw extraction threatened everyone and President Jonathan, a fellow Ijaw, endorsed the threat by canceling a scheduled presidential engagement in Delta State. Today, the story is about an individual from Ijaw nation doing the work of the Nigeria Navy. Such acts would only further serve to demoralize the military”.
Tompolo is said to have acquired these warship through a British company who acted as a face to buy the weapons, which have all been re-armoured.
Source: Naij
