Soldiers have arrested two men who they believe to be associates of notorious ex-militant Government Ekpemupolo AKA Tompolo in Warri, Delta state.
According toThe Vanguard, the two men were arrested on Tuesday morning and then taken to the military barracks in Effurun. Others have been said to be on the run.
Mr Daniel Ezekiel, Spokesperson of the Ijaw People Development Initiative, IPDI lashed out at the mode of arrest of one of the men, who had his house broken into through the roof and was arrested without a warrant.
He said: “We condemn the military action of breaking in through the roof of Simeon Bebenimibo’s home without a court warrant to arrest him, an act that amounts to kidnapping and abduction.
“ This is barbaric, obnoxious and unlawful. The military has no such powers except empowered by a valid court warrant. It is sad and we are disappointed.
“ It is very disappointing and it is our demand that those military officers, who conducted themselves as kidnappers should be court marshalled.
“ Bebenimibo hails from Gbaramatu Kingdom and is a member of Delta State Waterways and Land Security Committee. The military invaded his home in Warri at 12.05 a.m., on Tuesday in three trucks in a commando fashion as if they were going to war.
“ In the process, they subjected his entire household, among them his little kid of five years, to a traumatic experience.”
The whereabouts of Tompolo are still unknown but efforts are being made to find him.