Asari warns Tompolo not to dare extend his pipeline protection surveillance to Kalabari areas

NIGER Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF) founder Alhaji Asari Dokubo has joined the ranks of those opposed to the awarding of the N4.5bn monthly pipeline surveillance contract to rival militant Government Ekpemupolo popularly known as Tompolo.

Last month, Tompolo was awarded a contract by the federal government to protect oil pipelines in a dramatic reversal of policy that had seen him declared a wanted man. Up until then, Tompolo was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as he was due to face charges relating to contracts he was awarded by the government of former president Dr Goodluck Jonathan.

Tompolo, the commander of the defunct Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (Mend), subsequently went into hiding to avoid arrest from the government. However, in a bid to avoid an escalation of violence on the Niger Delta, the federal government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) agreed to engage Tompolo to end illegal bunkering, illegal refining and oil theft in the area.

Over recent months, oil theft has become such a serious problem that Nigeria's crude output has fallen from its historic level of 2.5m barrels a day to 1m barrels. However, like several other rival Niger Delta militants, an aggrieved Alhaji Dokubo said it smacked of greed for Tompolo to be in charge of pipeline protection for all the ethnic groups in the Niger Delta.

Un a viral video address, Alhaji Dokubo wondered why Tompolo would be in charge of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers States querying whether he was the only one that knew how to eat. He vowed to stop Tompolo from being in charge of the surveillance contract for the 83km pipeline criss-crossing his Kalabari area in Rivers State.

In addition, Alhaji Dokubo said he would not allow Tompolo’s armed boys escorted by soldiers to enter the Kalabari area. Already, the Ibeno Men's Development Association, representing the Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has warned Tompolo not to venture into its territory.