Following the award of a pipeline surveillance contract to an ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, and others, some masked militants, who claimed to be from Rivers and Bayelsa states, have threatened the Federal Government, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Limited.
The leader of the militants who identified himself as “General Sempe,” in a viral video questioned why a surveillance contract for a pipeline in Rivers State community should go to Tompolo in Delta State, whereas two ex-militant leaders, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari and Ateke Tom were from the state.
The militants said: “What you are trying to do in Niger Delta is to cause chaos, especially in Ijaw land. It will not work, we do not take it because what you are trying to do is to set confusion.
“NTCL line has over 90 kilometres and a particular community has 83 kilometres in it. You did not give any of them the job, and you went and took this job to somebody who is in Oporoza because you want to connive with him and eat the money when we have the likes of the former IYC president, Dokubo-Asari and Ateke Tom.
“I, General Yipen, even if the leaders accept it, I will not accept it because you tried it in oil and gas, and you succeeded, we did not talk to you.
“You think we are David Lyon that you took into politics and after he lost his election, you took over his contract and gave it to your brother so that you can be getting cut out of it.
“My brother, let me tell you, you cannot try it if you try it, but let me tell you, this is the pipeline if you think you people can come, come and you will see. The end justifies the means.”
However Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, IPDI, a Niger Delta group, which identified the sponsors of the masked militants, in a statement, yesterday, warned them to retrace their step.
National President, IPDI, Austin Ozobo, who accused unnamed ex-militant leaders in Rivers State of sponsoring the boys, said: “We are aware of the ex-militant leaders in Rivers State that are behind the surfacing masked up militants parading with weapons to issue unfounded threats against Tompolo.”
