Oil Thieves Unhappy, Threatening My Life – Tompolo

Former Nigerian militant commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and founder of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly called Tompolo, says the powerful people behind oil theft are constantly threatening his life for blocking their illicit business in the Niger Delta region

He said the oil thieves are powerful people both within and outside of the Niger Delta who are quite unhappy and uncomfortable with ongoing efforts at ridding the nation of oil bunkering and those behind the illegal business.

This is as he also claimed that some naval personnel forcefully attacked operatives of the private outfit during the arrest of some suspected oil thieves along the Port-Harcourt creeks a few days ago.

Tompolo made the allegations at Oporoza, the headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom while engaging members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) National Executive, led by its President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), on a working visit to the oil-bearing community in Delta state.

However, the former Militant Leader said synergy between the Navy and other security outfits is the best way to go if the Federal Government sincerely seeks to effectively tackle the worrying issue of oil theft in the country.

He further informed his guests that in the course of ongoing surveillance operations to checkmate crude oil cartels and round up their leaders, his company, Tantita has continued to step on toes and become the target of revenge missions.

According to him; “While doing this work, we have stepped on a lot of toes of people over there in Lagos and Abuja. We have stepped on a lot of toes. As I am here, after my court cases, I cannot travel anywhere because of me and the key people (barons) fighting this battle.

“If I want to travel to Abuja to visit you, I must go with security. Even with two or three security personnel, none of them are happy with me, and they are now collaborating with top players involved in oil theft.

“Most times, you see that Tantita Security now has confrontations with the Navy and every well-meaning Nigerian knows the function of the Nigerian Navy and Tantita, but nobody wants to come out to face the truth. If we happen to arrest anybody now, we would get a lawyer from Abuja, Lagos, or Ibadan to do the case very well.”

Conveying his deep worries over the unfortunate happenings within the oil-rich region, Tantita’s Chief Executive expressed sadness that efforts to checkmate crude oil theft were being sabotaged in some quarters.

“Some few days back, our people intercepted a vessel in Port Harcourt, where the Nigerian Navy was shooting at Tantita Security, with police, Department of State Services, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

“We want to implore and beg you (NBA). You must play your part in this present situation, because if we are not careful in this country, maybe we will not have the money to do any reasonable thing. All of us here know that Nigeria is facing hardship. A bag of rice is over N100,000.

“We are going to do our part locally. But you (NBA) are there at the top. If we make arrests today, lawyers would stand on the other side and this side. Can somebody come to load a vessel of 500 metric tonnes in this community? Nobody has that capacity; the person comes from Lagos, Abuja, or neighbouring countries. The man here would be a water boy for the people in charge. That is the one we would arrest”.

In his remarks, the NBA President, Afam Osigwe, while on a courtesy call on the Pere of Gbaramatu kingdom, Oboro-Gbaraun II, in his palace, said it was heartwarming hearing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) declared recently that oil production had risen to 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd), with a promise to increase it up to 2 million bpd before December 2024 ending.

The NBA boss said; “If the oil production keeps going up, it will benefit all of us and the government will be able to provide for the needs of the people”, adding; “There is a need to stem the theft of our commonwealth. The fight against oil theft is more desirable now, more than ever before because Nigeria is borrowing so much to fund its budget and cannot meet the needs of Nigerians.”

Osigwe, who expressed sadness over the Federal Government’s borrowing spree to fund the budget, said; “If the leakages in oil production are well blocked, it will go a long way in boosting the country’s earnings.”

While also noting with concern that oil exploration activities in the Niger Delta had adversely impacted the region “as manifested in the environmental pollution and degradation of most of the host communities”, Osigwe said; “We resolved to make an on-the-scene assessment of the oil-bearing communities to see the hardship they are suffering.

“The NBA is interested in the issues of oil theft coupled with the effects of environmental pollution and environmental degradation as a result of oil exploration on the host communities. The irony is that these communities that bear the responsibilities of the nation’s oil wealth do not enjoy the wealth as most of the cities in the country

“Our branches in the oil-bearing areas should be interested in the issues of oil theft which goes on in many communities because it has affected our national economy and also impacted negatively on the ability of the government to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

“It has also impacted negatively on our foreign reserves. It has adversely affected Nigeria’s ability to meet its minimum OPEC quarter for oil production. We felt that the matter should be taken seriously. We know that Gbaramatu Kingdom plays host to a company called Tantita Security Services which has been working with the NNPCL and the Office of the National Security Adviser.

“It has done a lot of good work on the issue of pipeline protection and the issue of oil theft. We thought that it would be a good place for us to come, first to get first-hand knowledge of how this battle has been fought, what the challenges approached, and how the fight has helped improve the Nigerian economic standing.”

Responding, the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, His Imperial Majesty, Oboro-Gbaraun II (Aketekpe, Agadagba) said host communities are in dire need of infrastructural development, and the government must demonstrate that it remains close to the people in meeting their immediate developmental needs.

He lamented that “presently, the government is far from us. I want to let you know that the presence of the government is even far from us. All these you are seeing is from the efforts of our elite, our big boys. So we are also calling on the government, we produce the oil, and from our territory, we feed the coffers of this country. So they should draw closer to us and do the needful for us to also reciprocate.”

The Royal father specifically made a case for the establishment of a Magistrate’s court in the Gbaramatu Kingdom while also pleading with the NBA’s leadership to mentor members of the Gbaramatu Lawyers Association to further brighten their career prospects in the legal profession.

Hear him; “We need people like this to come to see things here. This is Gbaramatu. Before now, people were making all sorts of allegations against Gbaramatu Kingdom, but now you are here. We always tell people, if you are coming to Gbaramatu Kingdom, don’t be afraid.

“We are working for the peace of the Niger Delta, extending hands of fellowship to other kingdoms. Ijaw people stand for truth. We are a peaceful people. Today, I want to tell our lawmakers that the judge in the court should conclude in the court.

“But as the Chairman here, I want to extend this to you, I know I’m not a lawyer or lawmaker, but before concluding your judgments, if it is needed, maybe, a land case, you should come to see for yourself before the final judgment.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Navy (NN) is yet to officially react to the claims of complicity by Tompolo as efforts to contact their spokesperson, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, on the issue proved unsuccessful before this report went to bed.