24th June, 2023
*Call for review of Oil Pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tompolo
By Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Ex-militants under the aegis of the Niger Delta Special Force, NDSF, have defended Asari Dokubo, the Leader of Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, NDPVF, on his recent allegations that the military officers aid and abet oil theft in the region
The Niger Delta ex-militant leaders, in a press statement issued by Boniface Abiye, their spokesman, especially criticized one Eshanekpe Israel, popularly known as ‘General Israel’ for attacking Dokubo over the claims that some members of the military were aiding oil theft.
According to Abiye,”For the records, the NDSF completely aligns with the position of Asari Dokubo on the issue oil theft and the military’s involvement in the act”.
NDSF also dismissed claims that Dokubo was jealous and envious of Chief Government Ekpuokpolo alias Tompolo’s Tantita Security Services, the Federal Government’s contractor currently handling the security of oil facilities in the region.
The group said the claims by Israel that, “The Nigerian military may have bad eggs, who deal and wheel in stolen crude, but that, such no longer obtainable since Tompolo took over surveillance of pipelines in the region,” was in agreement with Dokubo’s claim the some members of military aides and abets in the sabotage the nation’s economy in the guise of providing surveillance on oil facilities.
“There was no where during his the visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that Asari Dokubo mentioned the name of Chief Government Ekpuokpolo,alias Tompolo and his pipeline surveillance contract throughout his conversation when he addressed the media”, NDSF said
The group cautioned that provocative utterance by Israel has deliberately fanned embers out restiveness and unwittingly challenged all former militant leaders in Rivers State to an open confrontation.
“With the likes of His Majesty, King Ateke Michael Tom, Hon.Dr Fara Dagogo, Chief Soboma Jackrich, also known as Egberipapa, and others, who have maintained a peaceful disposition all along to enable Chief Government Ekpemupolo also known as Tompolo who was fortunate enough to secure the federal government’s surveillance contract, perform his duties within their territory without fear or intimidation of any sort, has thus been misconstrued for weakness of the leaders.
On the oil pipeline surveillance contract, the group stated that because Tompolo was allowed to execute his job within other territorial waters other than Delta State does not in any way make him superior to its respected leaders – Alhaji Asari Dokubo, King Ateke Michael Tom, Hon Fara Dagogo, Chief Soboma Jackrich – Egberipapa, Oriemi Hart, and others.
The group ,therefore, call on “President Bola Tinubu to review the current surveillance contract in the Niger Delta, and carve out the areas of Rivers State and give same to Asari Dokubo, His Majesty, King Ateke Michael Tom, Hon. Fara Dagogo, Chief Soboma Jackrich – Egberipapa, Oriemi Hart, and others who will be in charge to coordinate the Rivers wing to avert avoidable crises within the region in the nearest future.
“These leaders are capable of reaching all other sub-leaders within the state for effective distribution of the contracts”.
NDSF emphasized that if its appeal is considered and accepted, it will guarantee peace, security and stability of the nation’s economy which is largely dependent on proceeds of crude oil exploration.