The Fiyewei of the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom, High Chief Godspower Gbenekama, has dismissed allegations that former Niger Delta militant leader and Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, operates an illegal detention facility or is involved in torture and abduction.
Reacting to an open letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu containing the allegations, Gbenekama described the claims as false and politically motivated, alleging that they were sponsored by individuals whose illegal crude oil bunkering activities had been disrupted by the ongoing crackdown on oil theft in the Niger Delta.
Speaking on the controversy, Gbenekama described the author of the petition as “a miscreant,” insisting that the allegations were borne out of jealousy and the loss of illicit financial gains.
He maintained that Tompolo and Tantita Security Services work in collaboration with statutory security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), all of which are legally empowered to arrest and prosecute suspects.
According to him, individuals apprehended during pipeline surveillance operations are handed over to the police after Tantita operatives conduct preliminary investigations, while decisions on prosecution and detention remain the exclusive responsibility of the police and the courts.
Gbenekama challenged journalists and members of the public to visit Oporoza, the headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta State, to verify the allegations, insisting that no illegal detention facility exists in the community.
He alleged that those behind the accusations were suspected illegal oil bunkerers and other beneficiaries of crude oil theft whose operations had been crippled since Tantita intensified surveillance across oil-producing communities.
Describing the allegations as “corruption fighting back,” the traditional chief urged Nigerians not to be swayed by what he termed baseless claims aimed at discrediting the pipeline surveillance contractor.
He also advised President Tinubu to sustain the Federal Government’s anti-oil theft campaign, arguing that Tantita Security Services has recorded significant successes since it was awarded the pipeline surveillance contract.
According to Gbenekama, attempts to fragment the surveillance contract among multiple operators would undermine the gains already achieved, noting that similar arrangements involving several agencies had failed to curb crude oil theft in the past.
He further observed that although oil companies operate their own surveillance teams, illegal bunkering only declined significantly after Tantita commenced operations, which he said underscores the company’s effectiveness.
The Gbaramatu chief called on the Federal Government to constitute an independent investigative team to verify the allegations, including visits to Oporoza, reiterating that Tompolo does not operate any private detention facility and that all surveillance activities are carried out in partnership with government security agencies.
“Tompolo works directly with the Police, Navy, Army and NSCDC. These are statutory security agencies with powers of arrest and prosecution. It is therefore unfounded to accuse him of operating an illegal prison,” Gbenekama said.
He added that suspects arrested during pipeline surveillance are always handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution in accordance with the law.
Gbenekama maintained that the allegations were the reaction of persons whose illegal crude oil bunkering businesses had been disrupted, stressing that the Federal Government should disregard the claims while sustaining efforts to combat oil theft in the Niger Delta.
