Tompolo Father's Burial: Four Drown In Boat Mishap In Warri

Four people were feared dead in Warri River, Friday, in a boat mishap involving the funeral party to the burial of late Thomas Ekpemupolo, father of Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo).
A community leader in Gbaramatu Kingdom, who craved anonymity, told newsmen, Saturday in Warri, that the victims included a man and three women.
He said that two of the female victims were from Kurutie and Ogulaha communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom.
It was learnt that the victims boarded the ill-fated speed boat at the Miller Waterside in Warri to attend the weeklong funeral, which commenced, Friday.
“We were already at the funeral celebrating Chief Thomas Ekpemupolo when we got news of the accident.
“Initially, we were told only two persons died, later we heard that the victims were four.
”The male victim, who was apparently from the northern part of the country, was on a mission to sell some wares at the funeral ground,” he said.
It would be recalled that the late Ekpemupolo died on September 7 at Lily Clinic, Warri.
The Delta State Police spokesperson, SP Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the incident, said the number of casualties were yet to be ascertained.
”I was regretfully informed that AW-19 boat mounted with 115-horsepower Yamaha engine capsized at Warri river.
”My patrol team rescued 11 persons; searching and investigation is ongoing.
”For your information, there is no manifest to show the number of passengers in the boat.
”So, the number of deaths is not certain yet, the bodies will float by tomorrow (Saturday),” said the Delta police spokesperson.
Meanwhile, the Ekpemupolo family of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, began the burial ceremony of late High Chief Thomas Osen Ekpemupolo, High Chief Oweizide Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo’s father, Friday, September 23, in Warri.
The late High Chief Thomas Osen Ekpemupolo will be buried at Kurutie community, the paternal home of the deceased.
According to reports, the burial began with the gates of Veenell Hospital shut as movement of persons were restricted into the premises due to the suspicion that the death of late High Chief Ekpemupolo may trigger tension within the area.
The bearing of the corpse of late High Chief Thomas Osen Ekpemupolo caused serious vehicular traffic in the town as some Itsekiri traditional dance groups entertained guests with songs and dance along the busy Okumagba Avenue Road in Warri.
High Chief Oweizide Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo as at the time of filing this report was absent at the scene, but his younger brother, George Ekpemupolo, who is the chairman of Warri South-West Local Government Council was on ground.
Chief Alfred Bubor, the immediate past Regent of Gbaramatu Traditional Council, High Chief Wellington Bobo, Chief Jonathan Deregbanran, Elder Samson Teide, and others were on ground.
The corpse would be conveyed to Kurutie community, the paternal home of the deceased for burial.
The burial ceremony will continue at Oporoza community from Saturday, September 24, through Sunday, Sunday 25.
It would be recalled that there were claims that the 84-year-old who passed on Wednesday, September 7, died as a result of wounds he sustained during the military invasion of Kurutie and other Gbaramatu Communities by the military.
Until his death, late Ekpemupolo was survived by four widows, 31 children, 45 grand children, 11 great grand children.
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