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Tompolo, the prominent founder of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, has disclosed that he is persistently under threat from powerful figures with vested interests in the illegal oil trade in Nigeria. According to him, these individuals view his efforts to combat the theft of the country’s oil as a direct challenge to their entrenched wealth and power.
Tompolo has pointed out that the individuals behind the rampant oil theft are not limited to the Niger Delta region, but rather include powerful figures from outside the area who hold significant influence and resources.
Tompolo, addressing the gathering at Oporoza, the capital of Gbaramatu Kingdom, on Monday, claimed that only days before, naval personnel had violently assaulted his private security operatives. This incident reportedly took place while they were in the midst of detaining suspected oil thieves in the Port-Harcourt creeks.
During the working visit of the Nigerian Bar Association’s national executive, led by its President Afam Osigwe (SAN), to the oil-bearing community, Tompolo made a strong call for a more unified approach between the Navy and other security agencies, emphasizing that only through collaboration can the region’s security challenges be effectively addressed.
Tompolo highlighted that, in the course of their surveillance operations targeting major crude oil players, Tantita had unwittingly antagonized powerful figures, thereby making itself vulnerable to retribution through revenge missions aimed at undermining its efforts.
He said, “While doing this work, we have stepped on a lot of toes of people over there in Lagos and Abuja. We have stepped on a lot of toes. As I am here, after my court cases, I cannot travel anywhere because of me and the key people (barons) fighting this battle.
“If I want to travel to Abuja to visit you, I must go with security. Even with two or three security personnel, none of them are happy with me, and they are now collaborating with top players involved in oil theft.
“Most times, you see that Tantita Security now has confrontations with the Navy and every well-meaning Nigerian knows the function of the Nigerian Navy and Tantita, but nobody wants to come out to face the truth.
“If we happen to arrest anybody now, we would get a lawyer from Abuja, Lagos or Ibadan to do the case very well.”
Tompolo expressed worry that efforts to checkmate crude oil theft were being sabotaged in some quarters.
Read also: Crude Oil Production Will Exceed 2 MPBD By December – Tompolo
“Some few days back, our people intercepted a vessel in Port Harcourt, where the Nigerian Navy was shooting at Tantita Security, with police, Department of State Services and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
“We want to implore and beg you (NBA). You must 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.
“All of us here know that Nigeria is facing hardship. A bag of rice is over N100,000.
“We are going to do our part locally. But you (NBA) are there at the top. If we make arrest today, lawyers would stand on the other side and this side.
“Can somebody come to load a vessel of 500 metric tonnes in this community? Nobody has that capacity; the person comes from Lagos, Abuja, or neighbouring countries.
“The man here would be a water boy for the people in charge. That is the one we would arrest,” he said.
