Pipeline Surveillance: Tompolo Commences Operation in Niger Delta Creeks With 1000 Armed Youths

Former militant leader Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, has commenced operation in the fight against oil lifters and pipeline vandals, The Nation reported.

Despite the controversy and backlash surrounding his N4.5bn monthly surveillance contract from the federal government, the warlord commenced operation with a series of gunboats and deadly ammunitions, amongst others.

No fewer than one thousand youths were recruited and deployed to strategic points in the Niger Delta.

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Legit.ng reports that Tompolo was accompanied by over 1000 gallant youths selected from various host communities in the Niger Delta.

Tompolo was also joined by joint security operatives of the federal government like the Army, Navy, and civil defence corp.

Confirming the commencement of operation against oil lifters, a source who pleaded anonymity stated that the commencement of the operation was on Monday, September 26.

He said:

“Tompolo embarked on massive recruitment of youths from the host communities to give the people a sense of belonging. The recruitment is ongoing and the target is to engage about 20,000 youths in protecting oil installations within their domains.”

The source also revealed that the joint task force has been saddled with the responsibility of identifying illegal refineries, illegal pipeline connections, and a host of other illegal activities.

Meanwhile, the Chief Superintending Officer (CSO), Supreme Egbesu Order (ESU), Tompolo’s traditional religion, Apostle Bodmas Kemepadei confirmed the development stating that the operation will bring an end to illegal activities at the pipelines across the Niger Delta.

It was gathered that the recruited youths were deployed in batches across strategic areas in the creeks and the waterways in other to unearth some illegal bunkering camps.

Kemepadei said:

“The engagement has seen him on occasions with stakeholders drawn from Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and other areas of interest where crude oil theft has been on the rise.

“Prior to this time, the nation’s economic sector has decried a fall in the face of the rising oil price in the international market to crude theft and illegal bunkering.”
Illegal oil lifting discovered at Ugo Ocha terminal, lawyers write Senate

Meanwhile, there are calls for the upper chamber of the national assembly to intervene over the incessant rate of oil theft in Nigeria.

Some concerned lawyers in Abuja recently petitioned the Senate Ad-Hoc committee to mediate over an alleged illegal oil lifting from the Ugo Ocha export terminal.

The lawyers, in their petition, alleged that a company has been violating the stipulations of the federal government as regards operation.

Churches, mosques now aid and abet oil theft, Kyari reveals
In another development, all efforts to combat the incessant rate of pipeline vandalism and oil theft are currently ongoing.

The GMD of NNPL, Mele Kyari revealed that 120 persons will soon be arrested a couple of days from now in connection with vandalism and oil theft.

He gave a shocking revelation that churches and mosques now aid and abet vandals in their activities by helping them store stolen crude oil.

LEGIT.NG