Former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, who is also known as Tompolo, once again wrote an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari requesting him to instruct the military to desist from the constant harassment of his family and associates.

In his letter, Tompolo recounted the experiences of some of his associates and family members at the hands of naval officers reportedly hunting the newly-formed militant group, Niger Delta Avenger (NDA).

There are a few points to note in Tompolo’s letter.

1.  The Nigerian Army, Navy, Police and DSS are all apparatuses of harassment

Tompolo minced no words in fingering the security agencies responsible for the alleged constant harassment of his associates. He told President Buhari that he wrote the letter to report “once again on the continuous harassment and intimidation of my family members and close associates by your security agencies (Nigerian Army, Navy, Department of State Service (DSS), and the Police) in connivance with one Ayiri Emami and Michael Johnny, both members of your party, All Progressives Congress (APC).”

2. Security agencies have been arresting Tompolo’s associates unjustly

Tompolo further revealed that the security agencies involved in his search are constantly harassing innocent people in the guise of searching for him and the NDA.

He said, “The latest victims of this unwarranted, misdirected and wicked act are Hon. Simeon Bebenimibo, a member of the Delta State Waterway and Land Security Committee and a driver of one of my aides, Mr Ebipade Kari, who was on an errand with a little baby. The baby was thrown away from the vehicle, as the driver was beaten to pulp by your men, as he was asked the whereabouts of his boss.”

3. The Navy is working in conjunction with an APC chieftain

He said, “That was not all, the military men stormed the house of one of my younger brothers, and harassed his pregnant wife with guns pointed at her.

“This has led to complications because of the closeness to her full time of delivery. The duo, who were arrested are presently in the custody of the Nigerian Army, Effurun. Before this incident, the Navy went to the apartment of another of my aide, and picked up his heavily pregnant wife as he was out of town, and kept her for 24 hours in the Navy base before releasing her. The mode of operation is that the military command usually decorates associates of Ayiri Emami and Michael Johnny with military uniforms and they go from door to door with a long list of names and addresses of my family members and associates with the intention of arresting them.”

4. Tompolo has a burning desire to develop the Niger Delta region

In his words, “I never knew my goodwill and patriotism will lead me to where I am now. I have this burning desire to attract developmental strides to this difficult terrain, as it is the only thing for the people of the Niger Delta, particularly the coastal areas, to continue to have faith in Nigeria as the area has been neglected for so long a time.”

5. Tompolo is not involved in pipeline bombing and vandalism

“I have said it in many occasions that the issue I am having with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will not lead to violence or resort to destruction of pipelines and other oil facilities, because I have a good case.”

6. President Buhari needs Tompolo to drive his change agenda

Tompolo is confident of his ability to assist President Buhari with his change agenda if only the President will call off the security agencies who continue to hound the former militant boss.

He said, “Your Excellency sir, it is instructive to state that you need me to drive this your change agenda in the Niger Delta region as I am ever passionate to improve the living condition of the people of the region.”

7. President Buhari has not treated Tompolo fairly

The former militant boss believes he has been treated unjustly by the President. He stated just as much in his letter to President Buhari.

He said, “The truth of the matter is that I have been treated unfairly by you sir. After all these hullabaloo about the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, in which I was accused of some wrong doing, you are yet to send emissaries to Okerenkoko (permanent site) and Kurutie (temporary site) of the University to ascertain the level of things on ground.

“Your Excellency sir, you are being respected today because of your integrity and sincerity of purpose, therefore you need to consciously investigate the issues surrounding the establishment of the University. If you can send some of your trusted men to visit the sites of the University and request for documents from the Federal Ministries of Transportation and Land and Survey, then you would have succeeded in unravelling the truth behind this University controversy.”