Former Niger Delta militant leader and Chief Executive Officer of Tantita Security Services Limited, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has accused the Nigerian Navy of complicity in oil theft in the Niger Delta region.
Speaking during a fact-finding visit by the national executive of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to Oporoza, Delta State, Tompolo alleged that naval personnel have repeatedly obstructed his team’s efforts to combat oil theft. He claimed the Navy had shot at his surveillance team, which includes operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), while they were conducting pipeline protection duties.
Tompolo criticized the Navy for allegedly preventing the interception of a vessel implicated in oil theft in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He described the ongoing confrontations between Tantita Security Services and the Navy as a significant challenge in the fight against oil theft.
The revelations come amid reports of Nigeria’s increased crude oil production, which has risen to 1.8 million barrels per day. Tompolo expressed concern that unchecked oil theft could jeopardize the nation’s economic recovery efforts and urged all Nigerians, including security agencies, to support President Bola Tinubu’s initiatives to curb the crime.
“The task of protecting oil pipelines is not without risks,” Tompolo stated. “We are stepping on the toes of powerful individuals, particularly in Lagos and Abuja, who benefit from oil theft. Despite our efforts, we face resistance, including confrontations with the Navy.”
He appealed to the NBA to assist in ensuring proper legal representation for arrested suspects and called for greater accountability among security agencies.
“Every well-meaning Nigerian understands the roles of the Nigerian Navy and Tantita Security Services,” he said. “However, no one seems willing to speak the truth. When suspects are arrested, we often need to hire lawyers from Abuja, Lagos, or Ibadan to handle the cases effectively.”
Tompolo urged Nigerians to prioritize national interest over personal gains, warning that continued oil theft could turn the country into an economic disaster. He called for collective efforts to safeguard Nigeria’s oil assets and promote economic stability.
The NBA President, Afam Osigwe, and his team visited the Gbaramatu Kingdom as part of efforts to understand the challenges facing oil-producing communities and explore solutions to the persistent issue of oil theft in the Niger Delta.
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