AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU

His Excellency,
President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,
Federal Republic of Nigeria.

SUBJECT: URGENT APPEAL TO STOP THE ILLEGAL PRISONS, KIDNAPPINGS, AND TORTURE IN OPOROZA BY CHIEF GOVERNMENT EKMUPOLO (TOMPOLO)

Mr. President,

As your senior colleague in human rights advocacy, Professor Wole Soyinka, famously stated ; "The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny."

It is this profound truth that compels me to write to you today regarding the reign of terror unfolding in the riverine communities of Delta State. 

A tereor group based of Oporoza House in Gbaramatu Kingdom led by Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo (popularly known as Tompolo) has established a network of terror characterized by ruthless oppression, abductions, and systematic torture against fellow Niger Deltans, particularly the Ijaw people.

Between 1939 and 1945, Adolf Hitler’s regime abducted millions across Europe and held them in concentration camps like Auschwitz-Birkenau, subjecting them to forced labor, torture, and death. Mr. President, a similarly shocking atrocity is taking place in Oporoza right now.

Tompolo currently operates four illegal private prisons in Oporoza Town, Warri South-West LGA, Delta State. To enforce his reign of terror, he relies on a brutal inner circle as follows ; 

1. Ekomieyefa Uduboh: Chief operator of Tompolo's torture chambers.

2. Tare Pondi: Tompolo’s cousin, who leads abduction operations.

3. Super Ebilade: Head of a armed squad responsible for invading peaceful communities to kidnap dissenting voices.

4. Bodamas Kemepadei: An operative who conducts cross-border abductions across neighboring states.

These operatives routinely invade communities across the Niger Delta to kidnap anyone who dares to speak out against Tompolo. 

Armed security personnel, particularly Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officers attached to Tantita Security Services are actively used to drag citizens to Oporoza in handcuffs and leg chains.

Once in Oporoza, victims face unspeakable atrocities. They are severely beaten to the point of coma and sprayed with pepper all over their bodies by Ekomieyefa Uduboh. 

Mr. President, we must ask critical questions ; 

 1. Does any contract signed between the Federal Government and Tantita Security empower Tompolo to abduct and detain Nigerian citizens across state lines?

 2. Under what law in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a private citizen permitted to operate illegal prisons and usurp the statutory detention powers of state security agencies?

A Network of Illegal Detentions and Human Rights Violations

An illegal network operating across multiple states in the Niger Delta has left a trail of human rights abuses, unlawful detentions, and violence. 

Victims span from various ethnic groups in the region, including the Itsekiri, Urhobo, and Ijaw and have been subjected to harsh conditions, severe intimidation, hard labor, and torture. 

These actions directly violate basic legal protections guaranteed under Nigerian law, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, and international conventions.

Ongoing Detentions
 
Balamene Karowei: Abducted from his home in Bayelsa State on July 11, 2024, by Bodmas Kemepadei. He remains in Tompolo’s illegal private prison to this day.

Charles Korubo: Abducted from Bayelsa State in November 2024 in an operation also involving Bodmas Kemepadei and remain in Tompolo’s illegal private prison 

Fatal Abuse

Patrick Peresuodei (Deceased): Brutally tortured to death by Bodmas Kemepadei and four officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) following a social media argument. 

Instead of surrendering the culprits to law enforcement, Tompolo allegedly offered ₦50 million to the victim's grieving parents to buy their silence an offer they refused.

Released Victims of Abduction and Arbitrary Arrest

Abraye Freeborn: Unlawfully detained in Tompolo's private prison for weeks until public advocacy forced his release. He was subsequently offered a clerical role at the Presidential Amnesty Office annex in Warri in an effort to silence him.

Tunde Tamara-Ebikemiyane: Abducted from his house in Warri City by Tare Pondi and a group of thugs. He was released only after intense public outcry, after which he was forced to sign a disclaimer denying Tompolo’s involvement.

Diver Ogbise Daniel: Kidnapped from the Ofunama community in Edo State by Super Ebilade’s team simply for criticizing Tompolo on social media. He was held and tortured for weeks before being released.

Prince Moses: Held in Tompolo’s illegal private prison in Oporoza for several weeks in early 2024 until pressure from close aides secured his release.

Rawlings Kakumor: Locked up in Tompolo’s illegal private prison in Oporoza for over six months before his eventual release.

Additional Documented Victims

Other individuals who have been subjected to unlawful detention and abuse by this network include:

Solomon Ayoro
Peter Zeblon
Samuel Kponah
Managing Gbagidi
Morrison Arigidi
Samson Ovomajiri
Monday
Moses Richard
Moses Obukokwo
Samson Edema
Afejuku Jolomi
Omamuminogho Molagbemi

I am ready and willing to present myself for a private investigation to provide further information regarding my claims. The international community is fully aware that these issues remain ongoing.

Call to Action

Mr. President, Tompolo has become an unchecked tyrant that inflict extreme pain on the very people he claims to represent.

As the Commander-in-Chief and as a father who understands the agony of having loved ones ripped away from their families, we appeal to your sense of justice. 

We urge you to step in immediately, dismantle these illegal detention facilities, bring those responsible for murder and torture to justice, and free our people from this internal oppression.

Respectfully yours,
Apostle Perela Osia Daniel Ezekiel
Human Rights Advocate