We didn’t blow up pipelines; Ex-militant leaders

Tompolo

Ex-militant leaders yesterday distanced themselves from the bombings of oil and gas pipelines in the Niger Delta region especially in Delta State.

The former warlords from the six Niger Delta states said none of them including Chief Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, was involved in the recent destruction of oil installations.

The government said the destruction of pipelines has reduced electricity supply by over 600mw while not less than N470milion is lost daily. It has already led to the shutting down of Port Harcourt and Kaduna Refineries.

Defence Minister Mansur Dan-Ali and led a team of Defence Chiefs to the site of the pipeline sabotage in Warri South, Delta State and vowed to deal with the culprits.

The attack on the pipelines started after a high court declared Tompolo wanted when he failed to appear to answer charges of money laundering and fraud levelled against him.

The ex-militant leaders, under the aegis of the Leadership Peace and Cultural Development Initiative (LPCDI) said unknown criminal elements, who were bent in causing disaffection between the region and the Federal Government, were behind the act.

The former creek warriors in a statement signed by their leader, Chief Reuben Wilson popularly known as General Pastor, said they were ready to partner with the government to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.

Wilson said: “What happened was not carried out by ex-militants. The world should not label the ex-militants with evil deeds. These attacks were carried out by criminal elements.”

“Some people claim Tompolo did it but he has come out to clear himself. Tompolo is a man known for his words. If he is involved in such things, he will come out to say it and give reasons. But he is not behind these recent attacks.”

Insisting that their investigations absolved Tompolo, Wilson, said no ex-militant leader would send anybody to blow pipelines in the region.

He said: “We call on the Federal Government to key in the ex-militant leaders into the protection and surveillance of oil pipelines in the region.”

“The ex-militant leaders have important role to play with their knowledge of the creeks and water channels. Because we don’t carry arms, we expect that such security job will involve the security personnel”

In Abuja, the Senate condemned the blowing up of oil and gas pipelines in the Niger Delta.

The upper chamber asked the Federal Government to take necessary measures to safe guard the pipelines in the interest of the country.