WARRI BLAST: Ex-Militant Leaders, Okah; Tompolo; Face Investigations

PHOTO: L-R: GOVERNMENT EKPEMUPOLO AND HENRY OKAH.

WARRI, DELTA March 24, (THEWILL) - As the bomb explosions around the Delta State Government House Annex on Monday, March 15th continues to generate mixed reactions from Nigerians amidst government investigations even though the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has claimed responsibility, intelligence reports emerged that former militant leaders, Mr. Henry Okah and Chief Government Ekpemupolo also known as Tompolo, are presently being investigated for their alleged involvement in the incident.

Chief Michael Johnny, former member of the Delta State Waterway Security committee, who had urged the federal government to probe the activities of Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) particularly on his noticeable absence at the peace conference despite the fact that he was a member of the panel, has raised an alarm over alleged threats to his life.

He alleged that a renowned former militant kingpin, who he refused to name, was after his life for allegedly accusing the ex-warlord of turning the Niger Delta struggle into a family business, urging the State Security Services to protect him.

Johnny said: "For sometime now, I have been receiving numerous phone calls and text messages from aides of the former militant warlord, threatening to kill me. They want me dead because I am on the side of the truth."

Meanwhile, security agencies have begun the investigation of MEND Leaders, Mr. Henry Okah and Government Ekpemupolo over their involvement in the recent bomb incident, including Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) activities around the days leading to the explosions. Ekpemupolo is also alleged to have acquired massive wealth using the genuine struggle of the Niger Delta people, according to Michael Jimmy.