Navy frustrating fight against crude oil theft – Tompolo

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

The Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) says the Nigerian Navy is frustrating the ongoing onslaught against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta

The Chairman of TSSNL, Dr Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo said this on Monday evening in Oporoza, headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta.

Tompolo disclosed this while hosting the national leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at the oil-bearing community.

The NBA’s President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), led the national executive on the visit.

It will be recalled that TSSNL is a private pipeline security outfit engaged by the Federal Government to protect its pipeline assets.

Tompolo alleged that recently some naval personnel forcefully attacked some of his workers while his security operatives were arresting oil thieves on the Port-Harcourt creeks.

“Efforts to checkmate crude oil theft are being sabotaged in some quarters.

“A few days ago, our people intercepted a vessel in Port-Harcourt, where some Naval personnel were shooting at Tantita security, Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and Civil Defence.

“Most times, Tantita security have confrontations with the Navy and every well-meaning Nigerian knows the function of Nigerian Navy and Tantita, but nobody wants to come out to face the truth,” he said.

Tompolo appealed to the NBA to rise to the situation and save the country from its current economic crisis.

He noted that government may not have enough funds to run her institutions, hence the need for all hands to be on deck.

“The NBA has a duty to 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.

“We are going to do our part locally, but you are there at the top. If we arrest today, lawyers will appear on both sides. My appeal is that you need to help us.

“If somebody is coming to load a vessel of 500 metric tons. In this community, nobody has that.

“The person may either come from Lagos, Abuja or neighbouring countries. The man here will be a water boy for the people to the head. That is the one we will arrest,” he said.

Tompolo said that he had stepped on many toes in the cause of the ongoing onslaught against crude oil theft adding that he had become a target of revenge.

“In the course of this surveillance, we have stepped on a lot of toes of people over there in Lagos and Abuja.

“After my court cases, I cannot travel anywhere because of me and the key people (barons) fighting this battle, if I must travel, I have to go with two or three security personnel.

The executive of the NBA had earlier in the day visited the Pere of Gbaramatu kingdom, Oboro-Gbaraun II, Aketekpe, Agadagba in his royal palace.

At the palace, Mr Osigwe, the NBA President, expressed joy over the recent announcement by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) that oil production has risen to 1.8 million barrels per day.

“If the oil production keeps going up, it will benefit all of us and government will be able to provide for the needs of the people.

“However, there is need to stem the theft of our commonwealth from some individuals.

“The fight against oil theft is more desirable now, more than ever before, because Nigeria is borrowing so much to find its budget and cannot meet the needs of Nigeria,” he said.

Osigwe said that the essence of the visit was to assess to oil-producing community and ascertain the level of hardship faced by the residents.

“Similarly, Gbaramatu Kingdom plays host to TSSNL which has been working with the NNPCL and the Office of the National Security Adviser.

“It has done a lot of good work on the issues of pipeline protection and oil theft. We thought that it would be a good place for us to come.

“First to get first-hand knowledge of how this battle has been fought, and what the challenges and approach are.

“And how the fight has helped improve the Nigeria economic standing,” he said.

Osigwe said that NBA was interested in the issues of oil theft coupled with the effects of environmental pollution and degradation resulting from oil exploration.

According to him, ironically, the communities that bear the pains of the nation’s oil wealth do not enjoy the wealth compare to others.

Responding, the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom called for governments’ infrastructural development in the oil-producing communities.

According to the royal father, “presently, government is far from us. It should come closer to us and do the needful for us to reciprocate”.

The traditional ruler specifically called for the establishment of a Magistrate Court in Gbaramatu kingdom.

He said that Gbaramatu stood for peace and will continue to stand for peace in the Niger Delta region.