Law Firm alleges of arms stockpiling against Tompolo’s Tantita’s security as Ijaw leader says allegations are diversionary antics by oil thieves

A Warri-based Legal firm Robinson Ariyo & Co has raised an alarm over an allegation of stockpiling small, medium, and heavy firearms against Tantita Security Nigeria Limited, a private company owned by ex-Niger Delta Militant Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as ‘Tompolo’.

The firm, while calling on President Bola Tinubu to investigate the activities of the Tompolo, said the recent finding clearly shows that Tantita is an arm stockpiling company, which is against its mandate.

The legal firm, in a letter of protest, addressed to President Bola Tinubu and copied to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and the Delta state Governor, Rt. Sheriff Oborevwori, said the activities of Tompolo and Tantita pose a great threat to National, West African, and Regional Peace.

The protest letter signed by Chief Robison Ariyo among others called on President Tinubu to set up a panel of inquiry to investigate the activities of Tantita Security Service Nigeria Limited.

Part of the protest reads, “We act for Mrs. Tsaye Mene, Edward Omagbemi, Prince Sammy Egbele Okoro, Dennis Mene, Arugha Weyinmi, Jonathan Okotie, James Ereku, Ojumude Bishop, and Lily -White Esigbone who are the accredited representatives of the members of Concerned Itsekiri Communities Organization and affiliate bodies in Warri North, Warri South-West and Warri South Local Government Area of Delta of Nigeria on whose instruction we hereby humbly register the extant petition.”

“That our client vehemently protests the cocktail of illegal and life-threatening activities of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, an arm stocking, land grabbing, and human-violating firm disguised as a registered security outfit.”

“The proliferation of small, medium, and heavy arms in the hands of private actors in Warri Coastal Areas comprising Warri, Warri South, Warri South West and Warri North Local Government Area of Delta state of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Niger Delta Conscientious Alliance (NDCA) had also through Comrade Emmanuel Seidougha, in petition to the United Nations Secretary General, The Office of the Prosecutor – International Criminal Court (ICC), the President of the European Union Parliament, President of the African Union, President of South Africa, President Bola Tinubu and various security agencies called for an investigation and prosecution of Tantita’s management, Tompolo, and others for alleged human rights violations, including their call for the urgent suspension of Tompolo’s aide Mr. Dennis Otuaro the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme for Intentionally Creating Crisis meant to Destabilize the Peace in the Niger Delta Region.

“We write to bring to your attention the ongoing unrest in the Niger Delta that was intentionally created by Mr. Dennis Otuaro the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) to cause disunity, crisis and chaos among the different leader’s camps in the region to enable Mr. Dennis Otuaro and his Boss Mr. Government Ekpemupolo also known as Tompolo to instigate and use the youths against their various camps leaders in their failed quest for power supremacy across the Niger Delta region.”

The group in their petition also alleged the existence of detention cells where numerous missing persons and individuals were arrested and kept in detention cells with about 30 individuals locked in each cell, and are held hostage and used for slave labour against their will for an extended period, ranging from weeks to years.

“Their prison conditions are extremely poor, with bed-seaters and about 30 people crammed into each container cell. Additionally, there are other container caravans used as additional detention spaces. The detainees are forced into hard-labor, being used to construct the palace and carry out various building projects against their will.”

“In-fact, they use the Nigeria Police officers, Nigeria Civil Defence Corps officers, and other security personnel attached to their company to illegally travel to different states to raid the homes of their critics and in some cases kidnap or kill them at the scene.”

“This is the case of Mr. Charles Kurubo from Bayelsa state, a critic of Mr. Government Ekpomupolo also known as Tompolo and Mr. Dennis Otuaro the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. They allegedly loaded fifteen (15) vans of Nigeria police officers, Nigeria Civil Defence Corps officers, and other security personnel attached to their company to raid his home, shot at his vehicle and kidnapped him to their cell in their community – Oporoza, Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta state where he is being detained while many people feared that he has been killed already. This incident took place about midnight on Tuesday 19th November 2024.”

Reacting, An Ijaw leader and immediate past vice chairman of Warri South-West Local Government Area in Delta State, High Chief Arthur Akpodubakaye has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to “ignore the antics of oil thieves and criminals masquerading as community representatives”.

Akpodubakaye, who is the Uwanguwe of the Isaba Kingdom in Warri South West LGA, made the call in a signed statement, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri on Wednesday.

He described as “a false alarm” a protest letter purportedly issued by a group which tagged itself Concerned Itsekiri Communities Organization and signed by an Itsekiri chieftain, Robinson Ariyo, accusing Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) of stockpiling small, medium and heavy firearms.

Akpodubakaye while berating the sponsors insisted that the alarm was merely aimed at “diverting attention from their unholy and unacceptable antics” just as he maintained that the allegations were ‘baseless, false and scandalous’.

“They were dubiously conducted by mischief-making people for the purpose of creating disaffection and use them as a weapon to undermine the peace process in Nigeria’s oil industry and the region”, he stated.

Akpodubakaye further stated,”The Itsekiri mercenaries should accept the fact that they can no longer plunge the mentioned areas into the dark old days as President Tinubu knows that Tantita Security Company carries out its activities and operations with strong collaboration with security personnel, government and agents.”