Tompolo writes Buhari, seeks release of Kingdom’s symbol of authority, detained students

Embattled ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemukpolo, otherwise known as Tompolo, has written President Muhammadu Buhari, seeking the return of ‘Golden Sword’, which he described as the symbol of authority of the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Council of Delta State, allegedly carted away last May by troops of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF). In his latest letter to the president, Tompolo narrated the ordeal of the Gbaramatu Kingdom, stating that the Nigerian military had not returned the Golden Sword and the palace staff which they took away from Oporoza town on Saturday, May 28, during the siege upon the town. He also lamented the situation of innocent students who were still missing.

“Your Military has not returned the Golden Sword (Symbol Of Authority) and the innocent students as well as the Palace Staff picked up at Oporoza town, on Saturday, May,28, 2016 to Gbaramatu Kingdom. Please permit and pardon my choice of words in this letter, His Excellency sir, as I am out to convey the obvious to you. It is pertinent to mention that I respect your position as the President of Nigeria and your age, as I am a well brought up African child,” he wrote.

According to him, “Today is exactly 31 days after the invasion of the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Oporoza town, by your military led by Brig. General Faruk Yahaya of the 4th Brigade, Benin City, in search of me, with the allegation that I am the one behind the bombing and destruction of crude oil facilities in the Niger Delta region, and the incident happened in my absence, but I was informed that the army was on the loose, and committed so much abomination in the community. “Imagine, the traditional ruler of the kingdom was literally placed on house arrest for one week. As I said in my previous publications, the military made away with the Symbol of Authority of the Gbaramatu people from the Egbesu Shrine, of which I am the Chief Priest.”

Tompolo alleged also that, “They also made away with other valuables worth several millions of naira from the community. The most annoying one is the purported arrest of ten young promising men most of whom are orphans, who are secondary school students sitting for the West African Senior Secondary School Examinations (WASSCE) and other palace staff, and labelled them as members of the Niger Delta Avengers.