A coalition of civil society organisations on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, accused Chief Oweizidei Thomas Ekpemupolo (popularly known as Tompolo) and his Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited in the Niger Delta region of gross human rights abuses and violations.
The CSOs after a peaceful protest at Shoprite, Alausa, Lagos issued a statement signed by the Convener, Comrade Abe Emmanuel in which it called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to as a matter of urgency and national importance, investigate the serious allegations with a view to nipping the seeds of such atrocities in the bud.
The coalition said that it has received several petitions and reports of torture, arbitrary arrest and detention of innocent citizens in an illegal centre, and therefore wondered if such trend of torture was part of the duty and brief of Tantilla Security Services which is solely contracted to protect pipelines.
The coalition particularly named Jolomi Abechukwu from Tisin Community who was arrested alongside his friend, Bade and taken into captivity in Oporoza where the alleged camp and illegal detention facilities of the Tantita security are located.
It said that the victims were arrested on December2, 2024 and only released in January, 2025.
The CSOs said; “As law abiding youths of Nigeria, we do not want to believe that the pipeline surveillance contract, gives impetus to the security company to arrogate arrest and detention powers reserved only for the security apparatchik of Nigeria.
“These unlawful arrests violate the express provisions of chapter iv of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the express provisions of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights,” the coalition said.
The coalition specifically said that ever since the current administration came on board, it has made its determination to reset Nigeria back to its cornerstone with the cardinal principle rested not only on economic reforms and the placing of the economy on sound footing, but also on promotion of human rights, rule of law and due process.
Emmanuel noted that right from the word ‘go’, the administration of President Tinubu has shown a promised of renewed hope.
The coalition noted that the hope is not centered on economic and infrastructural development alone, but also on human capital development; and protection of human rights which is an integral part of development.
It further said; “We believe as a civil society organisation that for the fortunes of Nigeria to move progressively, the later part of this defined development must be protected and harnessed.
“The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations for Human Rights is a coalition convened to advocate for monitoring and defense human rights across the length and breathe of the Federation of Nigeria.
“We are drawing the attention of the federal government to this anomaly with call on international organisations to help protect the rights of Nigerian youths spread across Nigeria because if this situation is not investigated and arrested, Youths living in the Niger Delta region will continue to suffer the inhumane and unconstitutional treatment meted out by the Tantita Security Services Limited.
“Lastly, we do not want to believe that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration which is fast building a reputation for due process, is aware of these heinous crimes against humanity,” it said.
The group urged President Tinubu to look into the allegations with dispatch to save innocent citizens from the arbitrariness of the Tantilla Security Services.
