Crude Oil Theft: Probe Tompolo’s Allegations Against Nigerian Navy, Others, Comrade Agberen Tells Tinubu

By Daniel Dafe

Comr. (Amb.) Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen, Coordinator, Initiative For Social Rights Concerns And Advancement (ISRCA) AKA “No Justice, No Peace, has called on President Bola Tinubu to probe into allegations made by High Chief Government Ekpemukpolo against the Nigerian Navy and others of frustrating their efforts in curbing crude oil theft.

The rights activist said this in a statement on Friday.

He recalled how a few days ago, he read an intriguing story, where High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, decried one of the numerous challenges thwarting efforts in the fight against crude oil theft, as he also strongly alleged that the Nigerian Navy for aiding suspected oil thieves.

He continued: “I will continue to commend efforts of the likes of Tompolo, founder of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), a Federal Government-contracted oil pipeline surveillance outfit, Kestin Pondi and a host of other Niger Delta Youths, for their relentless efforts to curb crude oil theft in the region, despite the heavy presence of the military and top government officials involvements in the racketeering.

“I had always known that, “the ants that feast on the firewood are inside.” I cannot imagine how many barrels of crude oil that has been stolen per day since 1999 before the emergence of the Tantita Security Surveillance Outfit with proven track records. Interestingly, the production of oil has risen to 1.8 million barrels per day, hence efforts in combating crude oil thefts shouldn’t be undermined but strengthened the more.”

According to him, the “Federal Government of Nigeria should investigate allegations made by High Chief Government Ekpemukpolo regarding the Nigerian Navy’s actions.”

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Adding: ”The Navy’s responsibilities do not extend to controlling crude oil activities in Niger Delta creeks, a task contracted to Tantita Security Outfit. The Navy should work collaboratively and follow the security outfit’s directives.
“The Nigerian Navy and other Armed Forces of Federal Republic Of Nigeria shouldn’t disguise under the name of a military personnel’s to pose threats, obstructing the Tantita Security Outfit from executing its duties. We cannot also exempt the involvement of the Army’s, NSCDC from such allegations. I understand, that the Tantita outfits must step on many toes to carry out its operations and this calls for serious concerns.”

Furthermore, he said “the House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria should, as a matter of urgency, invite the Nigerian Navy authorities for further questioning regarding the attack on Tantita operatives, alongside the Police, DSS, and Civil Defence, during an operation to apprehend suspected oil thieves in the Port Harcourt creeks.”
“These are just one of many reasons I will continue to advocate for private surveillance outfits, such as Tantita Company in protecting and preventing crude theft in the Niger Delta creeks,” saying “the people of the region collectively own crude oil, and they are best positioned to prevent pipeline vandalism by internal and external forces.”

“Preventing crude oil theft is a shared responsibility crucial to the nation’s economic growth,” he concluded.