POLICE in Delta State, yesterday, announced the recovery of three corpses from Friday’s boat mishap allegedly involving passengers going to weekend’s funeral of late Chief Thomas Ekpemupolo, father of wanted ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, a.k.a, Tompolo.
Earlier reports had it that four persons in the speedboat heading for last Friday’s funeral rites at Kurutie, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, were missing when the boat capsized minutes after takeoff from the Miller Waterfront, Warri.
Police Public Relations Officer, Delta Command, Celestina Kalu’s initial confirmation of the accident had declined giving a body count in the absence of a passenger manifest for the affected boat.
However, Kalu had expressed hope that bodies could float the day after. Kalu in a statement, yester-day, said: “Today (yesterday) at 5p.m., three lifeless bodies were recovered near Miller Waterfront, Warri, by a police search team in collaboration with local divers.
“The boat’s engine was also recovered and the corpses deposited at Warri Central Hospital morgue for autopsy. Each corpse had been identified by their families and investigation is still ongoing.”
Kalu’s reports came on the heel of a rebuttal by Paul Bebenimibo, spokesman to Tompolo, saying that “there was no such incident linked to the burial of Tompolo’s father. “Tompolo’s father’s burial, which took place during the weekend, was crowned with huge success.
“The three days burial, which started on Friday and ended Sunday was attended by over 10,000 persons, including Deputy Governor of Delta State, Kingsley Otuaro, representatives of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and other top government functionaries, ended in a peaceful atmosphere.
“Leaders of Kurutie and Ogulagha communities, who were deeply involved in the burial arrangements, did not even raise such issue during the ceremony, therefore, the story is another attempt by enemies of the Ekpemupolo family to cast aspersions on Tompolo and other members of the family.
“The carnival-like burial, attended by Ijaw, Urhobo, Itsekiris and so on , was more of a unifying event.” “Sympathisers were adequately entertained with music, food and drinks, and everyone was apparently satisfied with the way the burial ceremony was planned.”
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Earlier reports had it that four persons in the speedboat heading for last Friday’s funeral rites at Kurutie, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, were missing when the boat capsized minutes after takeoff from the Miller Waterfront, Warri.
Police Public Relations Officer, Delta Command, Celestina Kalu’s initial confirmation of the accident had declined giving a body count in the absence of a passenger manifest for the affected boat.
However, Kalu had expressed hope that bodies could float the day after. Kalu in a statement, yester-day, said: “Today (yesterday) at 5p.m., three lifeless bodies were recovered near Miller Waterfront, Warri, by a police search team in collaboration with local divers.
“The boat’s engine was also recovered and the corpses deposited at Warri Central Hospital morgue for autopsy. Each corpse had been identified by their families and investigation is still ongoing.”
Kalu’s reports came on the heel of a rebuttal by Paul Bebenimibo, spokesman to Tompolo, saying that “there was no such incident linked to the burial of Tompolo’s father. “Tompolo’s father’s burial, which took place during the weekend, was crowned with huge success.
“The three days burial, which started on Friday and ended Sunday was attended by over 10,000 persons, including Deputy Governor of Delta State, Kingsley Otuaro, representatives of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and other top government functionaries, ended in a peaceful atmosphere.
“Leaders of Kurutie and Ogulagha communities, who were deeply involved in the burial arrangements, did not even raise such issue during the ceremony, therefore, the story is another attempt by enemies of the Ekpemupolo family to cast aspersions on Tompolo and other members of the family.
“The carnival-like burial, attended by Ijaw, Urhobo, Itsekiris and so on , was more of a unifying event.” “Sympathisers were adequately entertained with music, food and drinks, and everyone was apparently satisfied with the way the burial ceremony was planned.”
vanguard
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