The Nigerian Army has reportedly attacked Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu kingdom where Government Ekpemupolo also known as Tompolo hails from.

According to Vanguard newspaper, the soldiers arrived the community at about 2:00am and laid seige till 8:00am on Saturday morning.

The soldiers, believed to have arrived in gunboats, proceeded to beat up residents of the community including the community leader who is well into his 80s, Atiti Mala, with the butt of a gun.

One of the youth leaders of the community told Vanguard that the soldiers pressured the villagers to bring out Tompolo.

“They were asking the helpless villagers to produce former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, and members of the Niger Delta Avengers.”

Also, Godspower Gbenekama, a leader in the Ijaw community confirmed the soldiers’ attack on the community.

He said, “Information available to me is that the military invaded Oporoza again in the early hours of today. As I am speaking to you, they are still there molesting people.”

“They have arrested many persons and villagers have fled into the bush, this is wrong, they are going to worsen issues with what they are doing. I posted on Facebook that they invaded Oporoza and a military called me to tell me that they would deal with me.”

“We are not safe, we have said it over and over that Gbaramatu people are not synonymous with Niger Delta Avengers, they should leave my people along.”

“If they want to kill me, let them go ahead, but I will continue to say the truth, why are they harassing my people, they should harass the militants whose activities we condemn,” he added.

Meanwhile, militant group, Niger Delta Avengers are still blowing up gas pipelines of oil companies with Chevron and Agip oil being the recently affected.

Adebayo Emuleomo