Pipeline Explosion: Troops In Hot Chase For Tompolo

Report credited to The Nation has it that a
combine military task force on Sunday,
January 17, launched a manhunt for Chief
Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.
This comes on the heels of the attacks on oil
installations in Warri Southwest local
government area on Thursday night, January
14.
READ ALSO: Tompolo Tells Buhari To Stop
Toying With The Niger Delta
It is believed that Tompolo, his associates
and other believed to be masterminds of
attacks on crude production and export from
Warri are being chased by the military task
force.
The media outfit also reports that at least
one suspect was arrested in connection with
the attacks.
Troops begin search for Tompolo
After militants had hit major gas and crude
oil trunk lines, including the major Escravos-
Warri-Lagos-Abuja gas trunk line of the
Nigerian Gas Company and several platforms
of oil multinationals operating in the region,
it was gathered that plans to hit more oil
facilities, including the Opumami location of
Con Oil Limited, were foiled by the security
operatives in the early hours of today.
READ ALSO: Tompolo Reacts To Alleged
EFCC Summons
However, Tompolo had condemned the attack
on Thursday night in a chat with The
Nation. He said he had nothing to do with it.
A statement from the camp of the ex-Niger
Delta militant reads: “I (Tompolo) am not
responsible for the attack and I condemn it
as a dastardly act. I am aware that some
persons might want to destroy oil
installations and link it with me that was why
I said before time that I have nothing to do
with it.
“I could not have gone ahead to carry out
such action knowing that every finger will be
pointed at me because of my case with the
federal government.”
But the latest violence in the region began
after a Federal High Court in Lagos ordered
security operatives to arrest the Niger Delta
ex-militant leader for trial on a N34bn fraud