The acquisition of seven decommissioned Norwegian battleships by a company believed to be owned by an ex-militant, Government Ekpemupolo, is threatening to fan the embers of ethnic hostility in the Niger Delta, as a pan-Itsekiri organisation, the Warri Study Group, WSG, has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to revoke the security contract granted Mr. Ekpemupolo’s company and place him under watch.
In a statement signed by the group’s Chairman, Edward Ekpoko, and Secretary, Tony Ede, the WSG warned that if Mr. Ekpemupolo, popularly called Tompolo, turned the weapon against the Itsekiri or other ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta, the international community should hold Mr. Jonathan accountable for failing to act.

On Saturday, PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr. Ekpemupolo’s security company, Global West Vessel Service, which was awarded a multi-billion-naira contract by the Federal government to secure pipelines in the Niger Delta, procured seven decommissioned Hulk class battleships from Norway. According to the report, the battleships with capability to carry missiles have been re-armed.
The procurement appears to violate Nigeria’s law. Part II Section 17 of the Private Guard Companies Act forbids private security companies from procuring or carrying deadly weapons. “No person approved under the provisions of this act shall bear or possess any firearm or ammunition in the course of his duties,” the act stipulates. WSG says it fears that Mr Ekpemupolo, who is from the Ijaw ethnic group, as Mr. Jonathan, may use the weapon against the Istekiris who have a long history of ethnic rivalry with the Ijaws. “President Jonathan, Tompolo and the DG of NIMASA are all of Ijaw extraction and we therefore see a script being acted out. Nigeria is the only country in the world where individuals – a rehabilitated militant for that matter – is awarded a contract to oversee the security of the coastline of a nation and with powers to import warships and sophisticated arms,” it said in the statement. The group said it observed that since Mr Ekpemupolo’s company was awarded the contract to protect pipelines in the region, oil theft and bunkering have been on the increase. It, therefore, suggested that the battleships may be meant for intimidating other ethnic nationalities in the region rather than for what it was ostensibly procured for.

once a criminal is a criminal.

Is he now a navy ?

only in a country with five President.

i thought the ship is owned by the navy.

This govt is just a joke. Y waste money to pay officers of Nigerian Navy then? Smh
Can't be worse

Had our media done more investigation as part of their journalistic duties, we wouldn't have being hearing such allegations and counter allegations by different groups.

Government Tompolo has denied having possession of such ships as alleged and has the subsequent write-ups to clear his name. It's now left for the media to verify.


[b] “The truth is that these boats in question have been in the care of NIMASA for about two years now. For the avoidance of doubts, the boats are not warships or gunboats as being erroneously spread by mischief makers.

The alleged boats

www.nairaland.com/attachments/1940135_2_jpegea571676ce9b75b0730a5d56350ae93e

What an actual gunboat looks like

www.nairaland.com/attachments/1940193_fnstornio_jpegb2c8b1ff5e828d82acd306641c09e6ef

“The boats as acquired are neither equipped with war arsenals nor are they ammunition carriers. They are simply boats equipped with modern surveillance devices to track oil thieves and in the process, increase the nation’s revenue base through NIMASA.

“Similarly, Tompolo is not in charge of the said boats as upon acquisition, the boats were handed over to NIMASA which in turn involved the Nigerian Navy in their usage and operations.

“Perhaps, it is apt to say that this latest blackmail could not have come from any quarter other than some Niger Delta politicians whose desire to enslave others has not only failed but backfired. The masterminds of this cannot cow me to withdraw my support for President Goodluck Jonathan.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Nigerians and indeed the Nigerian media can do the nation a big favour by contacting the Norwegian Embassy for more details on the boats in question”, Bebenimibo concluded. [/b]

@Ngwakwe:
You and your team of TANiods, should please stick with a single opinion and be consistent with it.
- First you all denied it as false.
- Then you guys justified the acquisition that it will help his company execute his contract.
- Now you are comparing the Older generation Gunboats to New generation Hi-Tec gunboat and using it as a yard-stick to argue it is not for military use.
- Immediately Tompolo said it is a blackmail, you are now denying he ever bought it.
- What NEXT?

The fact is, the story did not originate from Nigeria. It was first published by the country's media. Thank God - that is why you have not blamed it on Buhari/APC.

egift:
@Ngwakwe:
You and your team of TANiods, should please stick with a single opinion and be consistent with it.
- First you all denied it as false.
- Then you guys justified the acquisition that it will help his company execute his contract.

You think every Intelligent Nairalander do like you?

I don't run from one developing story (thread) to another to avoid making nuisance of myself. I haven't the time to waste with unlearned critics but was waiting for a rebuttal from the Federal Government or the Security Company for which Tompolo represent.

I am here to educate free minded Nairalanders on how to deal with unsubstantiated/inconsistent rumours and developing stories before forming their personal opinion.

It will do you good to follow my contributions on this platform to learn the acts of Intellectual debates and analyses.