BEVERLY HILLS, October 04, (THEWILL) – Fresh tension is mounting in the Delta Waterways as ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), Saturday, allegedly deployed some ex-militants to stop a clearing job at the Madangho axis of the ongoing Export Processing Zone (EPZ) project in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta state.
The clearing contract, which is being handled by a former Warri South West Council Chairman and newly-appointed Director of Security to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Hon David Tonwe, ran into hitches as some ex-militants believed to be loyal to Tompolo allegedly stopped the ongoing work over issues of compensation.
In a reaction, however, Tompolo’s media aide, Comrade Paul Bebenimibo, dismissed the allegation that his boss was responsible for stopping any work at the site, saying he was not aware of such incident.
Bebenimibo said; “There is no iota of truth in that story. It may even be your own imagination, because I’m a member of the committee on the Gbaramatu sea port, and I’m not aware of stoppage of clearing job, talk less of Tompolo sending so-called ex militants.”
All efforts to reach the Chairman of Ugborodo Interface Committee, Barr. Austin Oborogbeyi, for comments when filing this report proved abortive.
Sources had told THEWILL that some ex-militants brandishing dangerous weapons had allegedly chased away workers of JAD Catering, a company belonging to Tonwe, which is handling the clearing of the Madangho axis of the Export Processing Zone site.
The incident, which happened around 3pm on Saturday, had sent shivers down the spines of residents of Warri over possible backlash between the Ijaw and Itsekiri in that part of the state over the development.
“The workers who were clearing the site were chased away by gun-wielding militants of High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (AKA Tompolo) over demands for compensation.
“They came in a large number while the military men at the project site kept their fingers crossed and watched the militants shot sporadically into the air to scare the JAD workers on site,” a source had said.
THEWILL sources said while Tompolo got the clearing job of the EPZ site at the Kpokpo axis, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi secured the other stretch of the clearing contract, leaving the Madangho end for Tonwe.
