High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, widely known as Tompolo, has disclosed that his life is under constant threat from powerful individuals involved in oil theft.
As the founder of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Tompolo has been at the forefront of efforts to curb crude oil theft in Nigeria, a crime that severely affects the country’s economy.
Speaking at Oporoza, the administrative center of the Gbaramatu Kingdom, Tompolo alleged that some suspected oil thieves enjoy backing from influential figures outside the Niger Delta region. He pointed out that his private security operatives recently encountered resistance from naval personnel while apprehending suspects in the Port Harcourt creeks.
During a visit by the national leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), led by President Afam Osigwe, Tompolo called for cooperation between security agencies. He revealed that Tantita’s surveillance activities had angered major players in the oil theft network.
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.
“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.
