High chief Government Ekpemupolo is currently enraged following the seizure of a traditional symbol amongst other items from his hometown, Oporoza.
High Chief Government Ekpemupolo
More trouble appears to be looming in the Niger Delta if a gold sword reportedly seized from the palace of Oporoza by the Joint Task Force of the Nigerian Army is not returned with immediate effect.
Sunday Vanguard gathered from security sources in Abuja familiar with the Oporoza operation that Tompolo is furious over the seizure of the golden sword by soldiers. The soldiers reportedly swopped on Oporoza last week and made away with some traditional paraphernalia, including the golden sword regarded as the symbol of authority of the Oporoza deity, and the motorised boat usually used by the Oporoza Council of Chiefs.
It was learnt from authoritative military sources that Tompolo demanded that the sword must be returned as the first step for him to listen to anyone who wants to meet him for any discussion about the boiling Niger Delta.
“It is true we have met with Tompolo in the last few weeks but he is very angry that the military desecrated the palace of Oporoza and made away with items related to their god,” one of the sources said.
The security official, who has been part of the Federal Government team to end the rage of the Niger Delta Avengers over oil installations in the region, expressed the willingness of the team to wade into the rift and recover the seized traditional items and calm frayed nerves.
As a fence-mending measure, reports have it that the JTF might return the golden sword and the traditional rulers boat any moment from now. Although the source did not say where they met with Tompolo, he pointed out that the former Movement of the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND leader was not afraid of appearing before the courts to face trial over alleged corruption but was worried about what he called ‘undue harassment’ by security agents.