Chief Government Ekpemupolo, better known as Tompolo, has denied attacking oil installations in Warri Delta State, and accused President Muhammadu Buhari of fomenting trouble in the Niger Delta by trying to frame him for the attacks.
A gas explosion rocked a section of Warri South-West Local Government Area and several oil installations in Gbaramatu kingdom on Thursday, barely hours after a Federal High Court in Lagos ordered security operatives to arrest Tompolo.
But in a statement through his media aide, Paul Berenimibo, Tompolo categorically denied attacking or ordering the attack on the gas pipeline and oil installations.
He said: “Well, I am sure this is what President Buhari is looking for. He should allow the people of the Niger Delta Region to know peace, otherwise he will not know peace as well.
“I am not responsible for the attack and I condemn it as a dastardly act. I am aware that some persons might want to destroy oil installations and link it with me; that was why I said before time that I have nothing to do with it.
“I could not have gone ahead to carry out such action knowing that every finger will be pointed at me because of my case with the Federal Government.”