Army releases arrested Tompolo associates

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/army-releases-arrested-tompolo-associates/

Two of the suspects, Simeone Bebenimibo, a member of the Delta Waterways
and Land Security Committee, DWLSC, Warri and Bomby Oluba hail from
Okerenkoko community, Gbaramatu kingdom in the state. The other, Ayiri,
an Itsekiri, is a driver to the Chief Security Officer, CSO, to Tompolo,
Ebipade Kari.

Tompolo cried out, last week, in an open letter to President Muhammadu
Buhari, cried out that his family and associates were under siege by the
army, navy and DSS, while his 84-year-old father, Chief Thomas
Ekpemupolo, brutalized by soldiers had his leg amputated recently by
doctors to save his life.

He pointed fingers at two APC politicians in the state, who he said were
working in connivance with security agents to tarnish his image because
of their greed for money and pipeline contracts.

His family in a statement by Frank Ekpemupolo also decried the continued
military assault and brutality on members, saying the witch-hunt of
Tompolo by APC leaders in the area does not represent national interest.

The family appealed to President Buhari “to put to an end these
political and military madness directed at the Niger Delta and
Ekpemupolo’s family in particular.”

I know the person that framed me – Bebenimibo
Saturday Vanguard spoke with Bebenimibo, on phone, yesterday. He said:
“Actually, I know nothing about the Niger Delta Avengers. I am a
politician, a onetime councilor representing Gbaramatu ward, Okerenkoko,
one- time SA on Security to Governor Timipre Sylva and presently,
Member, Delta State Waterways and Lands Security Committee.”

“Before I was arrested, I was receiving threat messages on my phone from
one of my younger cousins, that I am part of the Niger Delta Avengers
and that he is going to arrest me.

“I told him that if you are the one that is going to arrest me, I would
be very proud because I would know where my problems are coming from,
but though I never believed he was go to go through with his plan,” he
said.

Bebenimibo stated: “My arrest was a setup and I am saying this
categorically because when I was arrested, members of my immediate and
extended family confronted the person having being aware of earlier
threat messages he sent to me.”

“When accosted, he boasted to them that I am going to rot in detention
as far as the APC government, which he is a member is in power for
having the effrontery to boast with him,” he added.

How they arrested me
“On the day of my arrest, I think on the 17th or18th of July, I was in
my house at about 1.00 a.m, before I knew what was going on, soldiers
invaded my compound in Warri. Owing to the fact that everywhere was
locked up, they jumped into the compound through the fence, using a
ladder from inside the compound, stretched it on the house, which is a
duplex and climbed into one of the balcony in the apartment.

”At the balcony, there is an adjourning door, which they broke down to
enable them gain access into the apartment. Inside the apartment, they
went to the bedroom of my eldest son, who is 12 years old, apprehended
him and asked him to take them to my room.

“Inside my room, I asked the operation officer, who is an Army Captain
that led them to my room what is the problem? He then told me that
someone reported me to them that I am a member of the Niger Delta
Avengers. Right there, I told him that I do not know about anything that
he is talking about and there is nothing I am going to say on the
matter,” he said.

My release
Bebenimibo said: “Not satisfied, I was taken away to the 3 Battalion,
Effurun, near Warri, amidst sufferings and was detained for 11 or 12
days, but after their investigations, they did not find anything
incriminating against me. They were making plans to transfer me to Asaba
or Bayelsa, but by the special Grace of God, I was released on Thursday
at about 6.00 p.m.”

He told Saturday Vanguard: “I cannot really tell what they found out in
the course of my interrogation, but to the best of my knowledge, I am
free of the allegations and that was why I was released unconditionally,
but earlier, they were telling me that I am innocent of the allegations
leveled against me. Personally, I am embarrassed by the incident.”

“I was interrogated severally while in custody. They asked if I know
anything about the Niger Delta Avengers, I told them no.

What they asked me about Tompolo
“They also asked me who is Tompolo and who he is to me, I told them that
Tompolo is my leader, my cousin and my Oga, but I do not know if he is
the Avenger. However, that he is my brother, but I have not spoken with
him for a while because of these problems and I do not know where he is.

“ They also asked about some of his (Tompolo) boys that were working
with him, I also told them that I do not know anything about that, as I
have not seen them for some time now and that though, I know them in
person, I do not know anything about them,” he said.

His words: “They never fed me and even if they had tried to, I do not
think I would have been able to eat their food, but the CO was a very
kind man to us. He ordered his boys to allow us buy whatever food we
want to eat and I was spending my money for feeding while we were in
detention.”

“Soldiers arrested me in company of one of my cousins, Bomboy Oluba,
together with one Ayiri, an Itsekiri driver to the Chief Security
Officer, CSO, to Tompolo, Ebipade Kari, on allegation that he knows the
whereabouts of Tompolo.

“He was brought in a day after my arrest; three of us have been
released. They did not tell us to return for further briefing or
interrogation on the matter, as we were all released unconditionally,”
he said