- Army re-imposes waterway closure to track down fleeing militant leader
- Residents plights get worse as second lockdown takes its toll
Barely two days after the men of the Nigerian Army relaxed the lockdown imposed on Egbema kingdom in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, the area has been condoned off again in the wake of a renewed attack on security personnel by an alleged militant leader and his gang.
The Army had initially mounted blockade in the area over alleged killing of some of its men by unknown gunmen at a Military Base in Obodo.
The New Diplomat had, last week, reported the worsening condition of the residents of the different communities affected by the military lockdown which lasted nearly a week before the situation was relaxed after intervention by some leaders and stakeholders including Egbema Kingdom Leaders, the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, amongst others.
It was however learnt that over the weekend, members of the Egbema Kingdom Peace Keepers (Local Vigilante) mobilized by ex-militant leader, Mr. Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, on patrol were ambushed by suspected militant leader, named N.K. and his gang, killing six of them in one fell swoop.
Worried by the renewed attack with many casualties recorded, the Military Joint Task Force decided to ‘re-impose lockdown in the area for three days now. The river has been closed since Thursday up till now.’
It would be recalled that the communities located in the Egbema area sent a ‘save our soul’, SOS message to the Chief of Army Staff and the governor of the State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to intervene and ask the army authority to lift the lockdown to allow free movement of the residents to their fishing occupation and allow movement of food items and other essential commodities from the outside world to the affected communities.
The SOS contained in a statement signed by the President of Egbema Leaders of Thought, Elder Edmund Tiemo, on behalf of the several riverine communities partly read:
“We wish to draw the attention of the civilized world to the fact that Egbema people in Delta State are currently facing starvation. It is comparable only to what is happening in the Tigray region, where Ethiopian soldiers refused to allow UN peacekeepers and food to get to the civil population.
“While they denied our people food and medical attention, the army moved food to soldiers who guard critical oil facilities in our land. They have food, light and medical attention in their facilities in our territory, yet, as if it is not enough punishment that we lack these essential commodities.”
“Our appeal, therefore, is to the authorities to open the Egbema Kingdom for life to return while the investigation, arrest and prosecution of the hoodlums can continue.”
The New Diplomat learnt that it was on the strength of the plea from notable personalities and the Army authority that led to lifting of the imposed lockdown. However, barely two days later, the militant leader, N.K. was alleged to have massacred six of the Egbema Peace Keeper in an ambush, hence the renewed blockade of the waterway.
According to a report by the Vanguard, the Executive Chairman of Warri North Local Government Area, Hon. Smart Asekutu confirmed the killing of the six peace keepers, just as he expressed support for the blockade to enable the Military Joint Task Force and the Egbema Peace Keepers double their effort towards arresting the militant leader before he wrecks more havoc.
“Six members of the Egbema Kingdom Peace Keepers were killed by the notorious militant leader, kidnapper and pirate, N.K, but we have recovered the remains of the three and taken them to the mortuary at Warri.
“It is not nine persons that were killed, I think they are about six, the boy has been causing security challenges for us in the local government and the present lock down by the army has the support of the local government council because security agents have to track him down before he commits more havoc.
“The current lock-down is to track down those kidnapping people and causing trouble so that there will be peace in the area.”
The chairman stated that all efforts to plead with the militant leader by those close to him to stop the killings have so far proved abortive, adding that the army has no other option than to lockdown the entire kingdom to track him down.
“He can be in the midst of people and when soldiers open fire, innocent people will be affected, that is why we want our people to cooperate with the security agents by giving them all relevant information,” he said.
It was learnt that N.K. was initially operating in Lagos area from where he was dislodged and he relocated to Ondo State but ended up in Egbema kingdom where he set up a militant camp from where he visits mayhem on the communities, kidnapping and collecting ransoms from his victims.
“In Egbema, he turned a terror, kidnapping hostages and collecting various ransoms from people and all efforts to rein him proved abortive.
“Leaders of Egbema ordered him to leave the kingdom but he refused, prompting them to report his escapades to Tompolo, who called a peace meeting, but he declined to show up.
“Earlier in June, the militant leader had also attacked Egbema peace keepers, killed one of them and fled with one of their speedboats
“It was three days after the onslaught on Egbema peace keepers that some soldiers were attacked and killed, which led to lock-down in Egbema. The army people he killed were not even in Warri North, they were in Warri South,” a source said.
Meanwhile, as of the time of filing this report, nearly a million Delta Ijaws who have been under the lockdown by the military for nearly two weeks now have been facing catastrophic condition as they have been denied access to food supplies, potable water and drugs for their cottage hospitals.
