High Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo is believed to have gone into hiding even as men of the Nigerian security services took over strategic location in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital against the background of ex-militants’ commanders to hold a meeting of Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) in the city.
It was gathered that Tompolo who had insisted that the meeting would hold despite opposition had barricaded himself in his house in Warri since Friday evening, as security operatives waited to pick him up if he as much as stepped out of his home.
Although no reason was given by Tompolo for the failure of the meeting to hold today as scheduled, but checks revealed that most militant groups in the Niger Delta do not see Tompolo as their leader as his call was not only selfish, but it was seen as strictly an Ijaw affair, hence the refusal to attend.
It would be recalled that Tompolo had denied that the meeting convened by him and other ex-militant generals under the aegis of the dreaded Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) was to reactivate militancy in the region and frustrate the administration of President Muhammad Buhari.
Despite this assurance, the move had continued to create tension in the state as all security operatives had been placed on high alert in case the meeting held.
But in a move to douse the tension created by the announcement of the meeting in the state, Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson called for the postponement of the proposed meeting of the leaders of ex-agitators.
Tompolo in a statement had expressed anger that his call is being seen in another light from what is intended, adding that the tension generated by the summon is misplaced, uncalled for and mischievious as he is not out to confront the administration of President Muhamud Buhari on any issues. [myad]
