Security
Tantita security alleges sabotage in fight against crude oil theft
Dr Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), has alleged sabotage in the fight against crude oil theft in the country.
Ekpemupolo stated this when he played host to the national leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), on Tuesday in Oporoza, headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the national leadership of the NBA was led on the visit by its President, Afam Osigwe (SAN).
He alleged that recently some persons attacked some of his staff while they were arresting oil thieves on the Port-Harcourt creeks.
Tompolo appealed to the NBA to rise to the situation and save the country from its current economic crisis.
He said 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, 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,” 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 has become a target of revenge.
“In the course of this surveillance, we have stepped on so many toes of people over there in Lagos and Abuja.
“After my court cases, I cannot travel anywhere, if I must travel, I have to go with two or three security personnel,”he said
The leadership of the NBA had earlier visited the Pere of Gbaramatu kingdom, Oboro-Gbaraun II, Aketekpe, Agadagba in his palace.
Earlier, Osigwe expressed joy over the recent announcement by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) that oil production had risen to 1.8 million barrels per day.
He said that Gbaramatu Kingdom plays host to TSSNL which has been working with the NNPCL and the Office of the National Security Adviser.
“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 a 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 fund its budget,” he said.
Osigwe said that the essence of the visit was to assess the oil-producing community, and ascertain the level of hardship faced by the residents.
“First to get first-hand knowledge of how this battle has been fought and what the challenges and approach are.
“Tantita 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.
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, the communities that bear the pains of the nation’s oil wealth do not enjoy the wealth compared to others get.
Responding, the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Oboro-Gbaraun II, Aketekpe, Agadagba called on the Federal Government to provide infrastructure in the oil-producing communities.
“Presently, government is far from us. It should come closer to us and do the needful for us to reciprocate,” he said.
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.
NAN reports that TSSNL is a private pipeline security outfit engaged by the Federal Government to protect its pipeline assets(NAN)
No fewer than 26 people lost their lives, with three others sustaining injuries, following an improvised explosive device (IED) detonation along the Rann–Kala Balge–Gamboru Ngala highway in Borno.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, several civilian vehicles travelling from Rann in Kala Balge LGA ran into a series of hidden explosives.
Makama said the incident occurred on Monday after the convoy veered into a zone where the IEDs had been strategically placed.
The publication said the IEDs were triggered by the movement of vehicles, adding that emergency personnel were swiftly deployed to evacuate victims and administer first aid.
“Security forces have since cordoned off the affected route and commenced clearance operations to ensure safety and prevent a repeat of the incident,” the report said.
“Those injured have been transferred to nearby hospitals where they are currently receiving medical attention.”
Last week, Mohammed Badaru, minister of defence, said President Bola Tinubu is committed to addressing the growing security challenges in Borno state.
The minister spoke about the administration’s commitment to meeting all operational needs of the troops to enhance security in the region.
The Oodua Integrity Group, a Nigerian civil society organisation, has called on Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to investigate and arrest an alleged gun runner, land grabber,popularly called then insert Lucky Blessings Abuah aka bullets of Achala Ibusa village operating in Asaba and Ibuzor, Delta State, accusing him of orchestrating criminal activities with the aid of rogue police officers.
Tosin Olaoluwa, the group’s South-South coordinator, made the appeal following intelligence gathered from concerned residents.
The suspect, identified as Achala Ibusa but popularly known as “Bullet,” is accused of running a network involving illegal arms trafficking, land grabbing, and cult-related activities.
Olaoluwa claimed Bullet operates with the protection of police officers from Rivers State, in violation of regulations prohibiting officers from working outside their command without approval.
According to the group, four AK-47 rifles were recently discovered hidden in a house in Ibuzor.
Two mobile police officers guarding the property reportedly distanced themselves from the find, raising suspicions of their involvement with Bullet, who is allegedly a leader of the Viking cult.
The Oodua Integrity Group further alleged that an assistant commissioner of police is complicit in Bullet’s activities.
The group highlighted that up to 10 mobile police officers are attached to Bullet, despite IGP Egbetokun’s recent directive to withdraw such personnel from individuals not legally entitled to their services.
“We urge the IGP to take immediate action to arrest the culprit in the interest of the general public,” Olaoluwa said, describing Bullet as a miscreant exploiting government security agents to perpetrate crimes.
In a separate incident, the group claimed that security agents from an agency in Abuja, acting on intelligence, were prevented from arresting Bullet by his police escorts.
The officers, reportedly from Rivers State, allegedly used tear gas and fired shots to obstruct the operation.
The Oodua Integrity Group warned that Bullet’s activities, including stockpiling AK-47s and other weapons in Asaba and Ibuzor, pose a significant threat to public safety.
They called for a thorough investigation into the allegations and the immediate apprehension of those involved.
The Nigeria Police Force has yet to respond to the allegations. Efforts to reach a spokesperson for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
The Kaduna state Police Command has debunked reports of a bomb explosion in the Abakpa area of the metropolis, which reportedly killed two children.
The spokesman of the Command, Mansir Hassan, said in a statement that preliminary investigations conducted by the Anti-Bomb Squad indicate that a locally made firearm (Dane gun) was discharged, resulting in the unfortunate loss of life of the young boy.
According to the police, the incident, which occurred at about 8:30 am on Tuesday at Josawa Road in the Abakpa area, claimed the life of a 12-year-old boy, identified as Abubakar Muhammed of Josawa Road, while seven other individuals sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The statement stated that a combined team of policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer of Kawo Division and the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Chairman of Kaduna North Local Government, all visited the scene following a distress call, and a thorough on-site assessment was carried out.
Police disclosed that further investigations and assessments are ongoing to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Command equally assured the public that further developments will be promptly and transparently communicated.