The whereabouts of a leader and spokesperson of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Jomo Gbomo, remains object of speculation and discussion over the weekend, amidst reports that he had been arrested in South Africa.
But sources close to Gbomo, a pseudonym for Henry Okah, yesterday debunked allegations of his arrest, stressing that as at the time the speculation started making the rounds, the MEND leader was in Nigeria.
Gbomo, who was alleged to be traveling under the name of Henry Okah, was purportedly arrested in Angola where he had allegedly gone to negotiate for arms and was later transferred to South Africa where he is awaiting repatriation to Nigeria.
A source, which pleaded anonymity, disclosed that Gbomo was in Lagos a week ago, around the time reports of his purported arrest filtered in. This could not be independently verified.
When contacted to authenticate the veracity of Gbomo's arrest, the spokesperson of the militant Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC), Cynthia Whyte, told The Guardian through the email that the information had been spreading for a while but that it was yet to be verified.
Whyte said: "Sometimes, for credibility sake, it is important that we exercise some measure of good patience just so that we confirm the real issues.
"This information has been arround for a while, but we are yet to be in complete know. Be assured that you will be provided with required information when the time is right."
A foreign news agency had reported that Gbomo had met Dokubo-Asari, an activist recently released after two and a half years detention for "corruption" and "high treason," as well as the former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
It was alleged that the meeting was aimed at resolving a financial disagreement between Dokubo-Asari and Jomo Gbomo.
But a source close to Dokubo-Asari said at the weekend that the man had not visited South Africa since his release from detention.
He disclosed that some persons had been dispatched to South Africa to ascertain the veracity of the arrest of Gbomo, stating that the picture of Gbomo's whereabouts would become clearer by next week.
A CNN documentary aired last year had polarised the MEND. A faction of the group, led by 'General' Tamuno had warned that there would be more violence in the Niger Delta unless the government released from detention Dokubo-Asari and Alamieyeseigha.
But Gbomo denied MEND's involvement and described the documentary as a "hatchet job." He referred to Tamuno's faction as political thugs and oil bunkerers.
Yesterday, sources close to 'General' Government Tompolo claimed that Gbomo was not really a part of the "struggle," but reportedly cashed in at the incarceration of Alamieyeseigha.
"His selling point is his exposure to the international media," he said. "He is actually the one who organises media focus on the Niger Delta."
The source also alleged that Gbomo is believed to be involved in gun-running and allegedly supplies weapons to armed groups in the Delta.
"He has no men on the ground and that is why no protest has greeted his arrest," the source said. He is, however, believed to have some measure of influence over some small groups around Port Harcourt.
From Kelvin Ebiri, Port Harcourt
The Guardian
Sunday, September 23, 2007
