Tompolo’s father’s burial tragedy: 3 bodies recovered so far —Police •No one drowned –Tompolo

Three bodies have been recovered from Warri river on Sunday, following a boat mishap during the first day of the three-day funeral rites of Chief Thomas Ekpemupolo, octogenarian father of the fugitive, Mr Government Ekpemupolo aka Tomopolo, on Friday.

The Delta State police command, through its image maker, SP Celestina Kalu, had earlier on Saturday, claimed ignorance of the number of those that were dead, but disclosed that 11 persons were rescued from drowning by the marine police during the incident.

Kalu, while on phone with the Nigerian Tribune, on  Sunday afternoon, however, confirmed that three bodies of those that drowned in the ill-fated boat mishap had been recovered.

But the former militant leader, Tompolo, speaking through his media aide, Paul Bebenimibo, denied the report that four persons died during the funeral of his late father last Friday.

Bebenimibo had, in a hurried statement signed and forwarded to journalists in Warri, on Sunday afternoon, denied the reports that the burial of the octogenarian claimed four lives at the Warri river.

“We wish to state clearly that there was no such incident linked to the burial of Tompolo’s father.

“Tompolo father’s burial, which took place at the weekend, was crowned with huge success.”