Tension is rising in communities in Opuama Kingdom of Southern Ijaw Local Government Council of Bayelsa State following an alleged invasion by armed operatives of the Tantita Security Company.
Tantita is a pipeline security company owned by ex-militant leader Tompolo, engaged by the federal government to guard oil pipelines in the Niger Delta against vandalism by oil thieves.
Over seven indigenes of the Opuama kingdom were allegedly seriously beaten and injured by operatives of Tantita under the guise of searching for suspected oil thieves.
Opuama kingdom comprises 14 autonomous communities and 48 fishing settlements in Southern Ijaw and hosts multimillion-dollar oil assets operated by SPDC, NAOC, and Chevron.
The Territorial Youth President of the Opuama Kingdom, Comrade Omatebe Foster Kurotimi, and the Technical Assistant to the Bayelsa Governor on General Duties, Opumie Collins Trueman, described the attack on the defenceless people of the kingdom as condemnable, barbaric and a gross misconduct on the part of the security pipeline surveillance company.
They confirmed that a particular victim who was loading sand in his boat at the waterside had his boat capsized, dragged down, and flogged with a machete for daring to wave down the Tantita boat because of over speeding.
Kurotimi, while speaking with newsmen in Yenagoa, said a formal protest has been filed with the State Headquarters of the DSS and the Zone 16 Command of the Nigerian Police.
He warned that the wicked act by Tantita security operatives is a provocative act that could lead to the breakdown of law and order.
Kurotimi also cautioned that although Opuama youths are law-abiding and peaceful, the invasion of the communities by Tantita operatives is threatening peace in the area.
“We are law-abiding and as much as we want peace, Tantita should adopt professionalism while searching for oil thieves. They invade communities and start chasing people and beating them with dangerous weapons.
“I have notified the traditional elders and the security agencies. Tantita should exercise caution and adopt professionalism. To Tantita, Opuama’s case is always different. They rounded up indigenes from a fishing settlement, took them to their houseboats, and started flogging them. It is unprofessional.
“While we are ready to work with the Federal Government, security agencies, and Tantita to tackle cases of oil theft, the Tantita should not continue to oppress our youths to avoid bloody confrontation.”
Trueman expressed disappointment at the action of Tantita operatives and called on the Federal, State, and security agencies to investigate the incident to avoid possible confrontation between angry Opuama youths and the Tantita security operatives.
Trueman called on Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri to intervene and stop the Tantita operatives from provoking a bloody confrontation between the Opuama youths and Tantita security.
” I have, however, called on my people to remain calm and expect intervention from the relevant authorities,’’ he said.
A top official of Tantita pleaded anonymity because the company’s official position on the allegations would be issued in due course, however, dismissed the allegations claiming that Tantita is not the only surveillance company operating in the area.
