The Warri Indigenous People’s Movement (WIPM) has accused Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, a company operated by ex-militant leader High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), of human rights abuses, illegal arrests and a deliberate attempt to annex Itsekiri communities under the guise of pipeline surveillance operations.
In a statement by WIPM Chairman, Hon. Kingsley Tenumah, and General Secretary, Comrade Monoyo Edon, the group said their recent protest in Abuja was a response to what it described as “orchestrated aggression and political subversion” by Tantita in the Warri region.
According to the statement, WIPM clarified that the Itsekiri nation was never against Tompolo’s contract with the Federal Government, but strongly opposed the company’s alleged deviation from its core surveillance mandate. “Calling out Tompolo and his company is not an ethnic issue. It is about blatant abuse of trust and territory,” the group insisted.
They alleged that Tantita operatives had repeatedly invaded Itsekiri communities including Usor, Tisun, Ajelebe, and Akpata, where residents were reportedly harassed, arrested, and taken to private detention camps.
WIPM claimed that in some cases, individuals were tortured and only released after interventions from prominent Itsekiri figures.
The group further accused Tantita of colluding with officials of INEC and the National Boundary Commission to alter community boundaries and rename Itsekiri villages using Ijaw identities. “There is a calculated attempt to distort demographic and political realities in Warri through forced annexation disguised as surveillance,” the statement noted.
Highlighting Section 257 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), WIPM warned that assigning the surveillance contract to actors with alleged territorial ambitions could result in instability and financial losses for host communities. The law holds host communities accountable for damage to oil infrastructure, potentially forfeiting benefits from the Host Community Development Trust if vandalism occurs.
“The security contract is not a license for political expansionism. It is about securing oil infrastructure. It is our considered view that only credible Itsekiri contractors should handle surveillance in our communities,” the group emphasized.
WIPM also condemned some Itsekiri individuals working with Tantita for allegedly betraying their heritage and community interests for financial gain. “These individuals have lost all sense of honour. Their silence during community invasions and sudden outbursts in defense of Tantita expose their motives,” the statement said.
The group concluded by urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government to review Tantita’s activities and ensure that surveillance contracts in Warri are awarded in a way that respects community identities and the spirit of the PIA.
