Allegations of manipulation and abuse of power are swirling around Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, a prominent figure in the Niger Delta, with accusations that he is leveraging his position in pipeline surveillance to target rivals and consolidate control over lucrative security contracts.

Ebimene Tokowei, spokesperson for the Niger Delta Mandate, has launched a scathing critique of Tompolo, accusing him of orchestrating false accusations against other Niger Delta leaders to maintain his dominance in the Federal Government's pipeline protection initiatives. Tokowei claims Tompolo's actions are designed to silence dissenting voices and ensure his continued control over these vital contracts.

The accusations center around the case of eleven young men arrested in January 2024 by Tantita Security Services, a company linked to Tompolo. The men, who were later discharged by the court due to lack of evidence, allege they were apprehended while fishing and subsequently coerced into falsely implicating Chief Victor Ben Ebikabowei, also known as Boyloaf, in criminal activities.

According to a video circulating on social media, the young men claim they were blindfolded, taken to a vessel, and pressured to confess that Boyloaf had sent them to steal in the high seas. They allege they were severely beaten for refusing to comply with these demands. The men further claim they were taken to Oporoza, where Tompolo himself pressured them to falsely accuse Boyloaf. After refusing, they were allegedly unjustly imprisoned for a year and eight months.

Tokowei argues that this incident exposes a pattern of behavior by Tompolo aimed at silencing potential challengers like Boyloaf and maintaining a stranglehold on pipeline protection jobs in the region.

Tokowei is urging the Federal Government to decentralize the pipeline surveillance contracts, distributing them among stakeholders in different states, warning against concentrating too much power in Tompolo's hands. According to Tokowei, this concentration of power poses a significant threat to the long-term stability and development of the region.

Furthermore, Tokowei alleges that Tompolo has exploited his pipeline surveillance contracts to force young men into serving idols and perpetrating various atrocities, including human rights violations and killings.

Tokowei cautioned the security agencies and the presidency that associating closely with Tompolo would tarnish the government's reputation, noting that numerous victims of his alleged abuses have pursued legal action against him, including cases of ongoing kidnapping.