Briga News Nigeria
The Niger Delta Front for Development (NDFD) is compelled to raise a national alarm over the disturbing rise in illegal oil bunkering activities within several Itsekiri camps and villages. These criminal operations are being cleverly masked under the cover of the pipeline surveillance contract allegedly anchored by the Olu of Itsekiri. This dangerous alliance has not only created a shield for economic saboteurs but has also made it increasingly difficult for genuine security agencies to operate freely in those enclaves.
It is not mere coincidence that operatives of Tantita Security Services, Nigeria’s most effective pipeline surveillance contractor to date, are met with stiff resistance whenever they attempt to enter Itsekiri territories. Their apprehension is rooted in the fact that Tantita’s presence often results in the unmasking of deeply entrenched illegal oil bunkering networks.
Under the visionary leadership of High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), Tantita Security Services has made unprecedented progress in curbing crude oil theft across the Niger Delta. Their operations have yielded real results from high-profile arrests to the shutdown of illegal refineries, achievements which are widely recognized by stakeholders and well-documented in national security records.
In contrast, Ocean Marine Solutions, the surveillance firm linked to the Olu of Itsekiri, has no such record. To date, there has been no verifiable instance where Ocean Marine apprehended oil thieves or disrupted any bunkering network. Worse still, available intelligence and credible reports suggest that the company may be facilitating, rather than combating, oil theft within its zone of operation.
This is an unacceptable betrayal of national trust and a deliberate undermining of the Niger Delta’s struggle for environmental justice, resource protection and regional development.
Our Demands:
1. Immediate Termination: We call on the Federal Government to terminate the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Ocean Marine Solutions as it has failed woefully in achieving its mandate.
2. Independent Investigation: A thorough, independent investigation should be launched into the activities of Ocean Marine in the region.
3. Prioritize Effective Security Partners: Contracts should only be awarded to firms with a proven track record of delivery, such as Tantita, to protect our national assets from sabotage.
The Niger Delta cannot afford to continue suffering the environmental, economic and social consequences of crude oil theft aided by political favoritism and ethnic monopolization. This fight is not just about surveillance, it is about justice, accountability and the future of Nigeria’s most valuable region.
Signed,
Godknows Ebimene
National President of Niger Delta Front for Development (NDFD)
For justice, peace and regional progress
