Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo said people he had stepped on their toes in his job of protecting oil pipelines and preventing oil theft now want him dead.
Tompolo’s firm Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, won a multi-billion-naira contract from the Federal government to secure the creeks, but according to him oil thieves operating from Lagos and Abuja protected by government own security agents are on his tail.
The former Niger Delta activist who was hosting a delegation of the Nigeria Bar Association led by its president Afam Osigwe (SAN), at Oporoza, Gbaramatu Kingdom Delta State, said he is hesitant to leave his domain because of threats to himself and his associates combating oil thieves.
“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.
“Most times, you see that Tantita Security Services now have engagements in open confrontation with the Nigerian Navy, which has refused to cooperate with us in the war against crude oil theft.
“The navy is working at cross purposes with other government and private security agencies saddled with the responsibility to curb illegal oil bunkering.
“The navy is aiding and abetting these criminals to continue to sabotage the nation’s economy. In fact, the Nigerian Navy is frustrating us. The operatives of the navy are colluding and collaborating with these criminals to swindle the nation.
“The operatives are neck deep in the menace of oil bunkering. They are making it difficult for us to win the war.
, “Just few days ago, men of Tantita Security Services intercepted a vessel carrying stolen crude oil in Port Harcourt, the personnel of the Nigerian Navy provided escort duties on-board the vessel.
“The navy personnel on-board the vessel and others speedily mobilised to the scene with gunboats and other equipment, opened fire on our men and officials of civil defence corps and DSS, who insisted that the vessel could not sail further.”
“Similar situation occurred at Ovwian community in Delta State, recently, when naval personnel also overpowered and subdued Tantita operatives to secure safe passage for another vessel carrying stolen crude. The cases of involvement of naval personnel in oil theft are too many to recount here.
“Every well-meaning Nigerian knows the function of Nigerian Navy and Tantita now, but nobody wants to come out to face the truth. The Nigerian Navy we support to safeguard the nation’s maritime assets has sacrificed its constitutional obligation for pecuniary benefits.”
Tompolo implored the NBA to join in the fight against oil theft adding some its members actively provide legal services to the high-class criminals.
“We want to implore and beg members of NBA: you have a duty to play in this present situation because if we are not careful in this country, maybe we would not have money to do any reasonable thing. All of us here know that Nigeria is facing hardship.
“We are going to do our part locally. But you are there at the top. If we arrest today, lawyers will stand on the other side and this side.”
