“During The Niger Delta Struggle, A Woman Disarmed You While You Slept On Guard — Now Hunger, Peanuts And ‘Stomach Infrastructure’ Are Making You Attack Boyloaf; Na Who Make You General?” — Ezetu Youth Chiko Emmanuel Tears Into Perewikle

By Passman Akpos

A fresh controversy has erupted within Niger Delta circles following a strongly worded response by an Ezetu youth, Chiko Emmanuel, to recent comments made by Ebi Pinapinawei, popularly known as Com Perewikle, against former militant leader Ebikabowei Victor-Ben, also known as Gen. Boyloaf.

Emmanuel, speaking from Ezetu Kingdom, accused Perewikle of what he described as selective memory and alleged that financial difficulties and personal interests may have influenced his recent interventions in disputes involving prominent Niger Delta figures.

He also questioned Perewikle’s claim to the title of “General”, recounting an alleged incident from the period of the Niger Delta struggle which, according to him, occurred while Perewikle was associated with Gen. Alex’s camp in Ekeni.

Emmanuel alleged that Perewikle was once assigned to guard a duty post but allegedly fell asleep while on duty, allowing a woman passing by to take his firearm and submit it to the camp leadership.

According to Emmanuel, Perewikle allegedly became distressed when questioned about the missing weapon and was subsequently punished and expelled from the camp.

“When you were in Gen. Alex Barrack in Ekeni, you were put at a duty post to guard. You slept off, and a woman walking by saw you sleeping and took your gun from you and submitted it to the camp leader,” Emmanuel alleged.

“When you woke up and were asked about your gun, you started crying and didn’t know what to say. You were flogged and driven out of the camp. Then you started picking periwinkle to sustain yourself.”

Emmanuel further alleged that Perewikle later faced another confrontation in the community over the alleged stealing of gravel before eventually leaving for Yenagoa.

“Na who come make you General? Very laughable,” Emmanuel said.

Ezetu Youth Defends Boyloaf Over Ekeni Incident

Emmanuel also addressed an incident involving an Ekeni youth whose death Perewikle reportedly referenced in his criticism of Boyloaf.

According to Emmanuel, the deceased was also connected to Ezetu through his father and was therefore not simply an outsider to the community.

He argued that the death was not intentional and claimed that Boyloaf sanctioned the individual responsible at the time.

Emmanuel said the deceased’s family in Ezetu stood by the situation and participated in his burial.

He consequently accused Perewikle of using the incident selectively against Boyloaf.

“Perewikle is being very foolish for using this incident against Gen. Boyloaf,” Emmanuel said.

Ezekiel Daniel Controversy

The Ezetu youth also challenged claims that Boyloaf should be blamed for the arrest and subsequent troubles involving Ezekiel Daniel Perela Osia.

Emmanuel argued that Ezekiel’s problems were connected to his previous association with the camp of Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, rather than any relationship with Boyloaf.

He claimed that Ezekiel had previously spent a prolonged period in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), and that his eventual release came through the intervention of human-rights advocates.

These claims were presented by Emmanuel and were not independently established in his statement.

“Ezekiel Daniel never worked with Boyloaf, nor did he even know him personally before,” Emmanuel said.

He further argued that Ezekiel had previously appeared online criticising Boyloaf and other Niger Delta leaders while defending Tompolo, yet Boyloaf allegedly did not retaliate against him.

“Even when Ezekiel previously came online to insult Boyloaf and other Niger Delta leaders in defence of Tompolo, Boyloaf never sought to arrest or oppress him. Boyloaf does not believe in using power to crush those who offend him,” Emmanuel said.

‘Nobody Sent Ezekiel To Fight’

Emmanuel also rejected suggestions that Ezekiel’s actions against Tompolo and others were orchestrated by Boyloaf or Jude Gbaboyor.

According to him, Ezekiel made his own decisions after allegedly witnessing what he regarded as abuses against Ijaw youths.

“Nobody sent Ezekiel to fight,” Emmanuel said.

“Neither Boyloaf nor Jude directed him. Ezekiel acted as an insider who saw atrocities being committed against our people and decided to speak out based on his own convictions.”

Emmanuel questioned why Boyloaf should be held responsible for Ezekiel’s arrest when, according to his account, the people associated with the arrest were among those Ezekiel had previously supported.

“How do you turn around and blame Boyloaf when the very people who arrested Ezekiel were the same leaders he once risked his life to defend?” he asked.

‘Boyloaf Does Not Seek Social Media Praise’

Emmanuel further defended Boyloaf’s approach to assisting people, claiming that the former militant leader often provides support without publicising every intervention.

He alleged that Boyloaf was involved in efforts to assist Ezekiel Daniel but chose not to seek public praise for such assistance.

“Even though Boyloaf is helping Ezekiel Daniel on the issue, he will not be looking for cheap social media praises,” Emmanuel said.

He also claimed that Ezekiel had never approached Perewikle for assistance over the matter.

Old Ekeni Detention Dispute Resurfaces

The statement also revived an earlier dispute involving youths from Ekeni Kingdom.

Emmanuel alleged that several Ekeni youths were detained for more than eight months during an earlier period and claimed that they were eventually released following legal proceedings.

He further alleged that the youths later made statements claiming they had been pressured to implicate Boyloaf.

According to Emmanuel, the matter occurred before the current disagreements among the various Niger Delta camps and personalities.

He also claimed that when an Ekeni leader sought assistance over the detained youths, Boyloaf quietly supported the legal process that eventually resulted in their release.

“When your own brothers from Ekeni were held for eight months and later revealed how they were forced to frame Boyloaf, you said absolutely nothing,” Emmanuel alleged.

“Yet when the video of their testimony was shared, you chose to attack those who brought the truth to light. That kind of selective outrage is dangerous, and you need to reflect on it before it destroys you.”

‘Stay Away From The Dispute’

Emmanuel concluded his response by telling Perewikle to stay away from disputes which he described as being beyond him.

He accused Perewikle of allowing what he called “hunger”, “stomach infrastructure” and small financial handouts to influence his actions, while warning him against bringing what he described as embarrassment to Ekeni Kingdom.

“You have enough of your own burdens to deal with. Stop inserting yourself into conflicts that will only spike your blood pressure. Consider yourself warned,” Emmanuel concluded.

The exchange adds another layer to the growing public disagreements among individuals and groups linked to the Niger Delta struggle, with competing accounts emerging over past events, relationships between former combatants, arrests, community disputes and alleged interventions by influential figures.

The allegations contained in Emmanuel’s statement remain his account of the events. The individuals mentioned, including Perewikle and other parties referenced in the allegations, have not been independently verified as having accepted Emmanuel’s version of the disputed incidents.