20th November 2024, NewsOrient, News, Governance And Development, Business And Economy, Law And Society
By Uche Eke

Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, has finally opened up on the challenges his security outfit, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, is currently facing as crude oil thieves allegedly sabotage it’s Federal Government assigned task of protecting Nigerian oil facilities.

According to him, “powerful oil thieves” in Nigeria are not happy with him and as a result, he cannot travel from the creeks of oil-rich areas to metropolitan Lagos or Abuja without enough security.

He alleged that the oil thieves are not only angry with him but are also after his life because of his efforts to checkmate crude oil theft in Nigeria.

Government Ekpemupolo made these allegations recently, when the National Executive of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) paid him a working visit at his hometown in Oporoza, the headquarters of the Gbaramatu Kingdom.

The visit of NBA National Executive to Tompolo’s the oil-bearing community, was led by NBA’s President, Afam Osigwe (SAN).

A report in Channels Television also quoted Tompolo as alleging, during the visit of the NBA executive, that “some naval personnel, a few days ago, had attacked operatives of the Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, a private outfit hired by the federal government to protect oil and gas infrastructure in some areas in the Niger Delta region, while an arrest of some suspected oil thieves was ongoing along the Port-Harcourt Creeks.”

Tompolo told NBA: “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,” he said.

He added: “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 in this present situation, because if we are not careful in this country, maybe we will not have 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.”

Responding, NBA President, Afam Osigwe, says the group is taking a strong stance against oil theft in Nigeria.

He 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…

“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.”

Photo Credit: PLAC

~ NewsOrient

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