Oil theft: Investigate Tompolo's allegation against Navy, Group urges Tinubu

A group, Initiative For Social Rights Concerns And Advancement(ISRCA)
a.k.a “No Justice, No Peace" has urged the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as the House of Representatives to as a matter of urgency, investigate the allegations made by High Chief (Dr.) Oweizide Government Ekpemupolo Alias Tompolo against personnel of the Nigerian Navy. The group said the green chamber should invite the authorities if the Nigerian Navy alongside for the Police, Department of State Security,DSS and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps for questioning regarding the alleged attack on operatives of TANTITA Security Services Nigeria Limited.

ISRCA National Co-ordinator, Comrade(Amb.) Derrick Oritsematisan Agberen made the call in a statement sent to Our Correspondent in Warri. 

It would be recalled that Tompolo had alleged that the Navy is sabotaging his organization, Tantita's efforts in the fight against Oil theft in the Niger Delta region. According to him, Naval  Personnel allegedly shot at TANTITA Operatives as well as Officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC during an operation to apprehend suspected oil thieves in the Port-Harcourt creeks and in Ovwian Community in Delta State. 

The group noted that the Navy's responsibilities do not extend to controlling crude oil activities in Niger Delta creeks, a task contracted to Tantita Security Outfit. 

It stressed that: "The Navy should work collaboratively and follow the security outfit's directives."

Group warned that the Nigerian Navy and other military agencies shouldn’t disguise under the name of a military personnel  to pose threats, obstructing TANTITA Security Outfit from executing its duties. 

group said: "We cannot also exempt the involvement of the Army’s, NSCDC from such allegations. I understand,that the TANTITA outfit must step on many toes to carry out its operations and this calls for serious concerns."

The group however commended the efforts of Tompolo,Founder / Chairman of TANTITA Security Services Nigeria Limited, a Federal Government-contracted oil pipeline surveillance outfit, High Chief 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.

"The ants that feast on the firewood are inside. I cannot imagine how many barrels of crude oil that have  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. 

The group further advocated for private surveillance outfits like TANTITA Security Services Nigeria Limited in protecting and preventing crude theft in the Niger Delta creeks. 

According to the group: "The people of the region collectively  own the  crude oil, and they are best positioned to prevent pipeline vandalism using both  internal and external forces. Preventing crude oil theft is a shared responsibility crucial to the nation's economic growth."