In a heart-wrenching plea for justice, Mrs. Faith Karowei Bala, the distraught wife of kidnapped Mr. Karowei Bala, has once again raised her voice, demanding the release of her husband, who she claims has been held captive since July 11, 2024, in what she describes as a "private prison" operated by ex-militant leader Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.  

Speaking through tears, Mrs. Bala revealed that her husband was forcibly taken from their home in Bayelsa State by armed men allegedly sent by Tompolo, led by one Bodmas Kemepade. Since that fateful day, she has not seen or heard from her husband, leaving their family in unbearable agony.  

"The children cry every day, asking for their father," she lamented. "My mother-in-law is sick, and without my husband here, there is no one to care for her the way he used to. Our lives have been shattered."  

Despite multiple petitions to President Bola Tinubu, viral social media campaigns, and appeals to security agencies, Mrs. Bala claims no action has been taken to secure her husband’s freedom. She now turns to the international community, specifically calling on the President of the United States, to intervene and pressure the Nigerian government to act.  

"The Bayelsa State government and security agencies know who took my husband," she said. "These men walk freely in the state, yet no one arrests them. How can this happen in a country with laws?"  

 Allegations against Tompolo are grave. Many persons has accuses him of running an illegal detention facility in Oporoza, Gbaramatu Kingdom, where victims are allegedly subjected to forced labor, human trafficking, slavery, and even ritual killings.  

This is not the first time such claims have surfaced. On November 4, 2025, protesters gathered outside the Abuja High Court, demanding justice for victims allegedly held by Tompolo. The demonstrators, carrying placards and chanting slogans, vowed that the case would not be "swept under the carpet."  

Human rights activists have long raised concerns about extrajudicial detentions in the Niger Delta, particularly involving ex-militant figures. However, concrete investigations remain scarce, leaving families like the Balas in despair.  

As the world watches, Mrs. Bala’s cry echoes a larger question: How long will impunity reign in Nigeria’s troubled creeks? For now, her husband’s fate—and that of many others—remains uncertain, locked away in the shadows of an alleged private prison.