People should be careful about believing Tompolo and Tantita Security Services. Tompolo is known for staged actions and lies, and he will do anything to remain powerful, even if it affects communities or the Niger Delta region.

The alleged vessel reportedly intercepted by Tantita Security Services was staged. Tompolo is desperate to secure the renewal of the pipeline surveillance contract and is trying to convince the Nigerian government and the public that the company is working effectively.

Look at the press conference held yesterday. Before Jonathan Lokpobiri read their Communique, he stated that he had just received information that a vessel had been seized by Tantita Security Services. 

However, the truth is that the alleged staged vessel seizure was posted four days ago by Iduwini Reporters on a Facebook page. It is questionable how Jonathan, who is the youth president of Tantita, only just received this information during the press conference. These actions give the impression that Nigerians are being underestimated, and it is quite laughable.

The Federal Government should carry out a proper independent investigation to know the true owner of the vessel and all those behind the alleged staged activities working with Tompolo. 

The government should also make sure that the DSS office, where classified documents often find their way into the public space, should not be part of it, and the office of the National Security Adviser should also stay out of it because they have presented themselves in society as not to be trusted.

Abili Integrated Services accused Tompolo Tantita Security Services on National TV of Staged Managed all the presentation they did in the National Assembly roundtable meeting with the NNPCL and security agencies that the arrest of individuals doing bunkering and the illegal bunkering site are all staged managed and Tantita Security Services could not respond or defend the allegations against them.

Tompolo once staged a vessel operation and arrested innocent fishermen from Ekeni community, placing them on the vessel and asking them to indict other Niger Delta leaders as the people who instructed them to carry out illegal crude oil activities, with promises that they would be freed. However, when they refused, the fishermen were sent to prison for almost eight months before the court discharged them.

One of the tricks Tompolo Tantita uses is asking their Tantita Security coordinators to coordinate vessels owners and make deals with them, promising to assist them in loading crude oil and giving them locations, only to later arrest the same vessels for publicity stunts and to deceive the people and the government into believing that they are working.

Charles Korubo was a coordinator to Tantita and later kidnapped by Tompolo, was asked to deceive vessel owners to come over to do illegal crude business so that Tompolo’s Tantita Security could use the event for media propaganda to deceive the people and the government that Tantita is working. 

However, when Charles Korubo declined, they started having problems with him, refused to pay him, and later kidnapped him. Up till today as we speak, Charles Korubo is in Tompolo’s private prison, and only God knows if he is dead or alive.

In January 2024, a Niger Delta group, the Movement for Sustainable Development of the Niger Delta (MSDND), also rejected Tantita Security Services Limited claim that it seized a vessel carrying stolen crude oil in Bayelsa State.

Tantita Security Services Limited had claimed that the vessel, MT Kally, was caught loading crude oil from the alleged “offshore Sokebolou field.” However, MSDND described the claim as false and misleading, saying no such oil field exists in Bayelsa State.

In a statement by its national coordinator, Chief Ayebatekena Olodi, the group accused Tantita Security Services Limited of trying to influence the Federal Government into renewing and expanding its pipeline surveillance contract. MSDND also questioned the company’s methods and accused it of spreading unverified claims to influence public opinion and government officials.

Tompolo Tantita Security Services should stop misleading the public and the government, these patterns of staged managed vessel seizures are outdated, they should improve their operations, and maybe they should start engaging properly at terminal entry points and intercept vessels while loading crude oil.

The Nigerian government should not take Tompolo Tantita Security Services serious, it's a failed security contractor that is allegedly involved in illegal crude oil activities and contributing to the stagnation of Nigeria’s crude oil production.

The President should consider decentralizing pipeline surveillance contracts across Niger Delta states to curb crude oil theft, increase crude oil production, and also improve peace and security in the region.