WARRI, Delta State – A powerful petition by the Itsekiri Public Affairs Commission (IPAC) has sparked fresh controversy over the role of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSL), a private security company allegedly controlled by ex-militant leader Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo. The petition, dated Sunday, was addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and several national and international bodies, accusing Tantita of acting as a tool of terror, land seizure, and intimidation in Itsekiri communities of Delta State.
The letter, signed by Mr. Oritsegbubemi Adrian Edema (President), Mr. TUALE Aderojo PUBI (Vice President), Comrade Bright Omaghomi (Secretary), and Dr. Samuel Fregene (Public Relations Officer), calls for an urgent investigation into Tantita’s activities and the role of its founder, Tompolo.
Background: Longstanding Tensions and Bloody History
The group draws attention to past violent conflicts—especially the Warri Crisis from 1997 to 2003—where Itsekiri communities like Ugborodo and Aja-Ugbodundun allegedly suffered brutal attacks from armed militants led by Tompolo. These attacks reportedly included killings, sexual violence, and mass displacement.
IPAC claims these violent events were later covered up under the guise of militancy and oil-related struggles, allowing illegal oil bunkering and arms smuggling to thrive in the region. Despite his role in the violence, Tompolo was granted amnesty in 2009 and later awarded lucrative security contracts by the federal government, the petition claims.
Tantita Under Fire: Allegations of Occupation and Violence
Tantita Security Services Ltd, which now holds a billion-naira federal contract to protect oil pipelines in the Niger Delta, is being accused of going beyond its job.
According to the petition, Tantita has:
- Illegally invaded over 20 Itsekiri communities, including Aja-Ugbodundun, Uso, Aja-Elebe, Akpata, and Sahara in the *Ugborodo area.
- Renamed the community of Sahara to “Saharagbene”, in what the group sees as an erasure of Itsekiri heritage.
- Operated a private detention cell in Opuraja, where individuals are allegedly tortured.
- Arrested and harassed local people, with some allegedly disappearing without a trace.
The group describes Tantita as acting like a “paramilitary force” rather than a private contractor and accuses it of spreading fear, suppressing dissent, and occupying ancestral lands.
Demands from IPAC
The Itsekiri group is asking President Tinubu and relevant authorities to:
- Launch an independent investigation into Tantita, Tompolo, and their alleged activities.
- Withdraw Tantita operatives from all Itsekiri lands.
- Disarm all private security groups operating outside government supervision.
- Provide justice and compensation for affected Itsekiri communities.
- Protect Itsekiri identity and restore their land rights.
Cited Evidence and Media Links
The petition references:
- Videos shared on Facebook showing alleged abuses.
- Old reports by Sahara Reporters linking Tompolo to illegal arms imports and militancy.
- Statements by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who once warned against giving ex-militants military power.
A Cry for Justice
“The Itsekiri people have suffered enough,” the petition says. “From the Warri Crisis to today’s silent occupation, we’ve lived under fear and suppression. Peace cannot exist without justice. Mr President, save our land and uphold the Constitution.”
What’s Next?
So far, there has been no official response from the Federal Government, the Presidency, or Tantita Security Services.
However, this petition is already gaining attention on social media, among civil society groups, and from local leaders who say they want answers and peace.
As more eyes turn toward Delta State, the nation watches to see how President Tinubu’s administration will respond to these serious allegations—and whether justice will finally reach the long-troubled Itsekiri communities.
